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THE BOY EMIGRANT 



BIOGRAPHY OF 

NATHAN BARNERT 

HIS CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS 

INCLUDING 
HISTORIES OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS 

BY 

MICHAEL T. BAUM 



Published at the suggestion of the Board of Managers of the Miriam 

Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School in order to awaken 

an interest in the institutions founded by 

Paterson's First Citizen. 



The Worlds in which we live are two. 

The world "I am" and the world "I do". 

The Worlds in which we live at heart are one. 

The world "I am", and the fruit of "I have done" ; 

And underneath these worlds of flower and fruit. 
The world "I love" — the only living root. 

— Van Dyke 



NEWS PKINTING COMPANY 

PATERSON, N. J. 

1914. 



Copyright, 1914 

by 
Michael T. Baum 



FEB -6 1915 



CI,A*i93561 



CONTENTS 



BOOK I. 



Chapter Page 

I. The Boy Emigrant ii 

II. The Quest For Gold 17 

III. Trying Times During the Civil War 23 

IV. Miriam Barnert 29 

V. In Ptiblic Life 37 

VI. Mayor Nathan Barnert 41 

VII. Re-election of Mayor Barnert 47 

VIII. "By Their Deeds Ye Shall Remember Them" 69 

BOOK II. 

Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple 91 

Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 105 

Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital 115 

Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society i55 

Independent Order B'Nai Brith 159 

Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association 163 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



BOOK I. 

The Boy Emigrant Frontispiece. ^ 

Hon. Nathan Barnert (From Latest Photograph) Facing Page 14 \y^ 

View O'f Main Street, between Market and Ellison Streets, in 
1870, showing Old Town Clock, City Hall and Lock-up 

Facing Page 26 *^ 

Miriam Barnert Facing Page 36 \^ 

Nathan Barnert (From Photograiyh taken in 1861) Facing Page 50 v^ 

Alderman Nathan Barnert (From Photograph taken in 1874) 

Facing Page 50 i^ 

Mayor Nathan Barnert Facing Page 50 ^ 

Barnert Homestead on Broadway Facing Page 70 i^ 

Barnert Mausoleum (Mount Nebo Cemetery) .. .Facing Page 86 >' 



BOOK II. 

Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple Facing Page 100 l/" 

Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School ... Facing Page 106 t^ 

Outing of Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 

Facing Page 108 ^ 

Testimonial Presented to Nathan Barnert by Faculty and 
Pupils Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 

Facing Page 112 \/^ 

Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital (Old Hoime) 

Facing Page 118 / 

Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital . . . Facing Page 140 x^ 

Board of Directors Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 

Hospital Facing Page 152^-- 

Synagogue Built by Nathan Barnert (Posen, Germany) 

Facing Page 158// 

Tablet Presented to Nathan Barnert Iby Hebrew Free Loan 

Association Facing Page 164 v 



FOREWORD. 



One seldom picks up a paper that one does not read a few 
lines of those who have passed away to the mysterious beyond. 
All the virtues possessed, and some of which the public never 
heard, are there strung as beads upon a ribbon for the reading, 
and even if the subject is a difficult one, the facile pen of the 
eulogist finds some chance to make known the loveliness, the 
efficiency, the gentleness or the generosity of the person under 
discussion. Which is as it should be. If we can say no good 
of the departed, say nothing, is a legend inscribed upon the 
laws of writer folks early in their career. But personally, the 
writer never reads one of these sketches; sees one of these 
eulogies, that the thought does not pass his mind, "I wonder 
how many or how few of those nice things were ever told to 
the persons when living? Did they know, I wonder that 
people thought them gentle, or found them to be kind?" 
There you have the writer's prayer in a nutshell. Why keep 
the good things until they can do no good to the person who 
would have appreciated them? 

We know generally w^hen a man is doing good work, or a 
woman making life sweeter and better for those about her, and 
we realize without being told that they are putting up a hard 
right, or giving up much joy for themselves to serve those about 
them. But yet, we hesitate, and neglect to tell them so, and 
they w^ork along almost until the end comes, and then, on the 
blank white paper, w^e spread for others the thoughts we should 
have enjoyed to speak to them alone; the commendation of 
their many virtues. 

From the child who mows the lawn and carries out the 
waste barrels to the man and woman who spends a lifetime in 



trying for some high goal, the human soul craves not adulation, 
but appreciation; and the simple phrase of understanding said 
at the right moment can do incalculable good. We are so 
ready with criticism and blame, of suggestion, and of inference, 
and so chary of our well doings, that it is necessary we should 
have the truth thrust upon us, that a bit of humane under- 
standing carries us further along the line of living, than is 
realized until we stop and think seriously. When we do well, 
we like to be told of it — every one of us — so why then withhold 
the word of appreciation from our fellows, when they surely 
deserve it and when the speaking or writing of it is not only 
easy but natural? 

In this appreciation of our most useful citizen, the Honor- 
able Nathan Barnert, the writer has endeavored to extol his 
works with sincere words of admiration, but has oftentimes, 
felt impotent to give just due to his admirable qualities. Ever 
heeding that Biblical injunction — "To Err Is Human To For- 
give Is Divine," — a phrase which Mr. Barnert has been prac- 
ticing daily, — the writer has refrained from dealing in per- 
sonalities in narrating the political activities of Mr. Barnert. 
This w^as a duty, which although difficult, was gladly per- 
formed, for it must be remembered that many of the incidents 
related were happenings within the ken of many and there are 
generations living today, whose feelings must be respected. 
This, also has been the earnest wish of Mr. Barnert. 

Mr. Barnert's earlier activities were many and varied and 
his experiences of a nature which have fallen to few of us. In 
the best sense, he is a self-made man. No distinction of his 
successful life is more characteristic of the man than the fact 
that his success is being shared in by the community. He is 
endowed with a genial nature, a keen sense of the beautiful in 
art, of strong moral and religious convictions, far sighted and 
capable, a man whose success inspires emulation. His sturdy 
optimism, his unremitting devotion to his fellow man, his broad 



philanthropy, are well known to us all. The happiness of 
others is dearer to him than his own, for the cardinal principles 
of his creed are sympathy and kindness; loving to do good and 
seeking opportunities to accomplish it. Amid the common cur- 
rent of men and affairs, in the daily grind of life, it is a blessing 
to have such a noble nature amongst us. And in Mr. Bar- 
nert's character and in his conduct, Paterson receives honor and 
praises among men. 

The foundation stone of culture, "Thou shalt love thy 
neighbor as thyself" was laid by his people and finds expression 
in the every day acts of Nathan Barnert. He has ever remem- 
bered that command *'Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto 
thine brethren and shalt surely lend sufficient for his need that 
which he wanteth." 

He is so gentle, so upright in nature, so simple and so un- 
affected in bearing a rude exterior covering an undaunted spirit 
proving by his every act and word that — 

''The bravest are the tenderest — 
The loving are the daring." 



I wish to express my profound gratitude to Mr. Arnold 
Levy, Mr. David Cohn, and all others who have given me 
valuable aid in compiling this biography, and in the gathering 
of statistics, w^ithout which the wTiting of the histories of the 
various institutions herein touched upon, would not have been 
as complete as was desired. 

THE AUTHOR. 

Paterson, N. J., Dec. 24, 1914. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE BOY EMIGRANT. 



On a spacious lawn, on Broadway, Paterson, New Jersey, 
stands a picturesque and unique fountain. The central figure 
is that of a boy, sturdy in physical structure and about eleven 
years of age. There is a curious smile on that frank face 
which seems to betoken confidence. His bare feet spread so 
as to give the agile body a poise of solidity, are topped with 
rough patched trousers, carelessly rolled at the bottoms. Home 
fashioned suspenders, with the inevitable nail as a button draw 
taut across a homespun shirt, patched and worn. The left 
hand is thrust far into a trouser pocket while the right hand 
holds above his curly dark locks, a leaky boot. 

Not one of Paterson's historic landmarks has attracted more 
attention nor has brought forth a wider range of interpre- 
tations of its representations, than this fountain. To those 
intimate with the life of its owner, whose unpretentious resi- 
dence stands just beyond, the figure suddenly becomes an open 
sesame to the early life of Paterson's foremost citizen. 

Nathan Barnert was just this age, and just such a lad 
when, way back in 1849, he gazed wonderingly from the emi- 
grant ship for the first time on the "fertile shores of this 
land of promise." 

What tender memories linger around that fountain and 
what day dreams that sturdy figure brings back to its dis- 
tinguished owner, Nathan Barnert alone can tell, for they are 
locked deep in his loving and charitable heart. 

Today, Ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert is known as the most 
philanthropic citizen in Paterson, the founder of great and en- 
during institutions, pioneer builder of silk mills, father of the 
present city charter and Paterson's original reformer. 



His was not a career "carefully fashioned by the hand of 
preceptors" nor was it guided by any other forces than the 
instincts of honesty, truth, and charity. He fought his way 
in the world and his own right arm broke every blow. His 
was a rough but salutary training, harsh and severe, but it 
only strengthened and ennobled his character. The memory 
of his difficulties, his contentions makes him value the happiness 
of others. He struggled under sullen influences and adverse 
circumstances, but 

"Taught by that power that pitied hintj 
He learns to pity them." 

Like that ever-flowing fountain, that replica of his early 
boyhood, ever flows his generous hospitality and charity finding 
its source in the benevolent depths of his great heart. 

The lessons of the life of Nathan Barnert will always 
be treasured — they inspire the young — they are sermons to 
those who have ventured and are hopeful — and may they 
always prove a stimulating influence and a guide to the lives 
of our young. 

Nathan Barnert points with pride to the fact — and well 
he may — that he was born on the holiest day in the Jewish 
calendar, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, (September 
20, 1838), which fast he faithfully and religiously keeps in con- 
stant prayer within the walls of the synagogue. Mr. Barnert 
is a man of culture and of piety, a strong minded Israelite of 
orthodox proclivities. If there is aught he has strived for 
it is the religious elevation of his people. The sentiments of 
the hypocrite, the renegade, find no habitation in his bosom. 
He is as devoted to his people and his people's God today 
as he was when, with his parents, Meyer and Ida (Newfelt) 
Barnert, he turned to these shores in 1849 from his native 
home, in Posen, Kingdom of Prussia. He has ever fought to 
have his co-religionists well thought of, honored and respected 
by the community. 



12 



Nathan Barnert obtained his educational advantages in his 
native city and in the City of New York. It was a hard 
struggle in the beginning for this young emigrant and when 
he was not in his father's tailoring shop on Forsythe Street, 
near Grand Street, New York, he would be devoting his 
time to home study and in the Talmud Torah on Henry 
Street. 

It did not take Nathan long to decide that his father's 
little shop held but little opportunity for him. It was at a 
time when the country was gripped with the gold fever and 
thousands, from the north, east, south and west, were hurrying 
to the newly discovered fields of wealth in California. Nathan 
was wont to listen to the wonderful tales of ''strikes" and 
"finds" as related in his father's store, and the more he heard 
of the fabulous fortunes being made, the more determined did 
this emigrant boy become to cast his lot with the rapidly 
swelling crowd of fortune hunters. 

At this time the question of financing a descent upon the 
gold fields of California was a momentous one. Nathan 
thought of many schemes and devised several plans to raise 
passage money. In those days electricity as an illuminant was 
still an unheard of commodity of trade and gas a luxury that 
few enjoyed. 

BOUND FOR CALIFORNIA. 

Salable necessities of the times were candles, and the 
emigrant boy, with his keen perception of their demand and 
worth decided to sell them and to garner the profits for his 
western trip. As a side line the young merchant sold soaps. 
It was a hard struggle from the beginning, and each day Nathan 
went home and counted his small profits and his enthusiasm 
increased with his slowly growing funds. Months passed, and 
finally one evening, Nathan confided his ambitions to his 
parents. They tried to persuade him that it was a fruitless 
effort but early one morning, not without the misgivings of his 

13 



folks, the boy, accompanied by another lad of his own 
age, wended his way to Vanderbilt's Steamship agency on 
Warren and West Streets, New York, and counted out $130 
in small change. Passages were secured for Nicaragua. It 
was a momentous day when the ship, loaded down with its 
human freight of fortune seekers finally left its moorings at 
Canal Street. 

It was a strangely assorted gathering on ship board. There 
was a strong feeling of comradeship all around as the hopes of 
the voyagers ascended to wonderful heights. There were men 
there in the seamy side of life and the way they scurried around 
among their more youthful fellows, one would have thought 
that they had become possessed of the secret of the imaginary 
fountain of youth. Not one among that crowd could be found 
who did not venture the hope, if not the belief, that untold 
fortunes awaited them in the newly discovered gold fields. 
And as they hoped, they danced and sang, starved and de- 
prived themselves of as much of the necessities of life they 
could. 

There were groups of two and three and of even more, 
all casting their lot in one common melting pot. This was 
the sort of men, our young adventurers had thrown their 
fortunes with for the time being and they made the best of con- 
ditions among these rough gold maddened men and before long, 
they too, after the first hours of home lonesomeness had some- 
what worn off, joined in the following song: 

"I Come from New York City, 

With my wash'boiler on my knee, 

I am going to California, 

The gold dust for to see." 

These verses were common property of every ship sailing 
from the Atlantic ports for San Francisco. 

The money paid for passage did not include meals, and 
this phase of the adventure had never entered the minds of the 
young voyagers. For the first couple of days this did not 

14 




HOX. NATHAX BARXERT 
From Latest Photograph, 



bother the boys but nature asserted herself finally and they 
were constrained to seek something with which to satisfy the 
cravings of hunger. One morning they entered the mess 
room of the stokers. There they were surprised to find that 
the coal passers were at least given some consideration as far 
as meals were concerned. 



15 



CHAPTER II. 



THE QUEST FOR GOLD. 



Nathan concluded that a coal passer's job with decent 
food thrown in as compensation was better than hard tack and 
indigestion and accompanied by his friend, went down to the 
coal hole. The men were busy working under the direction of 
a big, kind-hearted man in uniform. ''Cap," said Nathan, with 
an unmistakable foreign accent, at the same time pointing at 
one of the coal shovelers, "I am strong, I can do what that big 
fellow is doing, give me a chance will you?" The officer 
thus addressed was impressed with the boldness of the boy and 
engaged him along with his companion. For three nights and 
three days the boys worked hard and it was a relief when, 
finally, the orders to retire were given and the announcement 
made that the long looked for destination was near at hand. 
Weary, begrimed, the boys made their way to the purser's 
office and there were each given $36 for their labor. 

"My cap maker friend from Newark and I certainly 
looked a sight," said Mr. Barnert, telling of this experience. 
"After we had washed, put on clean garments, we went to 
the main deck, which was crowded with the hundreds eager to 
get ashore and to the gold fields. 

"My friend still carried a bundle of soiled garments and 
in his delight at hearing the order to leave, threw his bundle 
into the water. A moment later one of the darkies bathing 
near the shore grabbed the bundle and scooted away. Hardly 
had be disappeared when my friend realized that he had thrown 
away all of his earthly possessions, including his $36, newly 
earned money. It was too late, for the frantic mob was already 
rushing from the ship." 

17 



Filled with hopes as he noticed the big army of miners 
returning from the fields of fortune to their homes, 
Nathan overcame his sudden feeling of lonesomeness and pro- 
ceeded to Marysville, California, and then on to Sacramento. 
The mining camp was filled with stories of big "strikes." 
Prosperity was everywhere. 

Nathan Barnert joined a group of five young men who 
engaged a room at the rate of $io a day. They turned their 
money into a common treasury purchasing their outfits and 
making daily forages into the mining regions. Each also took 
turns in washing and ironing and cooking for the outfit. 
Large camps extended northward as far as the North 
Fork of the Feather, and into Mariposa County on the South. 
By this time, the "Long Tom" system of finding gold had 
given way to "Sluice Washing" where a long shallow box was 
so inclined as to give a stream of water, flowing through it, a 
good headway. Along the bottom of the sluice were fastened 
low cleats of wood, or "riffles" where the much sought for gold 
particles were caught. 

Water, however, became a thing that could no longer 
be taken as it came, but had to be brought to the right place 
often at much labor — and thus it acquired a market value, so 
much per "miner's inch." 

IN THE MINING CAMPS. 

River bed mining, a bold and dramatic scheme, was another 
method employed. Those who attempted this plan, were forced 
to labor for weeks and to entail great hardships and when 
victory seemed nearest, an early rainfall swept everything away. 

And while the men, condemned themselves to one of the 
hardest and often bitterest of lives, they at all events were now 
banded together to build a society. Even while they organized 
their private schemes, their camps became a town, themselves 
townsmen, and their less fortunate mining brethern blazed 
the way for the opening of the marts of trade. Of this latter 

i8 



sect, young Barnert, was one of the pioneers. Deciding that 
there was still another pathway in his search for gold, he 
went to San Francisco, purchased a supply of candles and 
scented soaps and made a visit of the mining camps. 

As a young merchant, the boy became very successful. In 
a short time he had saved fourteen hundred dollars. He then 
decided that a little recreation was necessary and hunted up 
his former mining companions. One Sunday night they — 
there were five of them — started out on a pleasure jaunt to the 
Eldorado on Kearney Street, a big white pretentious looking 
building located next door to the city hall. Many were the for- 
tunes won and lost in this gambling house in those days. Debts 
were mostly paid with nuggets of gold. The rooms were gorge- 
ously furnished with a superabundance of gilt frames, sparkling 
chandeliers and ornaments of silver. "It was a rapturous and 
fearful scene" as Mr. Barnert recalled it in after years. 

There were Mexicans wrapped in blankets, smoking cigar- 
ettes, Frenchmen in their blouses puffing at black pipes, country- 
men fresh from the mines wearing flannel shirts and high 
boots with pistols and knives in their belts — boys of ten and 
twelve years, losing hundreds at play, and low browed men 
from Australia. 

The most popular game was monte, conducted by Mexi- 
cans, faro, an American game, and rouge et noir and roulette 
of the French. 

There were many pretty women, handsomely gowned in 
rustling silks, and wearing glittering diamonds, contrasting 
strangely with the hairy faces, slouch hats, and flannel shirts of 
the miners. 

Then gambling was looked upon as a legitimate in- 
dustry because the courts upheld gambling debts as valid and 
authorized their collection. Gambling was licensed in San 
Francisco, until 1855 and in Mar5^sville, until 1856. 

Young Barnert took a chance, and needless to say, perhaps, 
lost his hard earned money and with it his gold watch which 

19 



he had treasured for years. "I then raised my hand," said 
Mr. Barnert in speaking of the incident recently, "took a 
pledge and have never played cards since." 

DETERMINES TO BECOME A MERCHANT PRINCE. 

Back to the mining camps with his now depleted stock 
of candles and soaps went Nathan. He worked night and day 
among the miners selling his wares with varying fortunes. 
Tired of this career and determined to advance himself and 
become a merchant prince, young Barnert went to San Fran- 
cisco. There he learned that a man by the name of Dixon, 
had once resided in Paterson and was conducting a big store, 
one of the most extensive of its kind on the coast. Barnert 
secured a position as an office boy, swept the floors and did 
chores and through his engaging manners became acquainted 
with the Dixon family. They esteemed and encouraged him. 
Young Barnert had often said that he had appreciated the kind 
assistance given him by the Dixons in those early days of his 
trials and that he would some day perhaps be in a position to 
repay them for those kindnesses. And the day came. It was 
when the former office boy was Mayor of Paterson, that news 
came of the terrible fire and flood devastation in San Francisco. 
Mr. Dixon, had since died, having lost most of his fortune 
during the Civil War, and his wife and two talented daughters 
had a precarious time making a living. With the news of the 
terrible disaster came the sad intelligence that the family had 
lost all their belongings. 

Mrs. Dixon wrote to Mr. Barnert, not for help, but for 
security for a piano, for help in some way to enable her 
daughters to teach. It was her only hope. Mayor Barnert, 
with his characteristic determination, decided that the family 
of his old employer should not want, and he went to New York 
and bought a piano — the best that he could find for the Dixon 
family — and shipped it off at once. 



20 



Let us return to our story. Young Barnert worked for 
several months in his new occupation and finally decided to 
branch out for himself. He purchased a mule and peddling 
outfit and returned to his old haunts in the mining regions and 
by close application had amassed quite a sum of money. Young 
Barnert was, however, not satisfied and seeking for new fields 
of endeavor sold his outfit and branched into the express 
business. The principal business at the time was conducted by 
the Wells Fargo and Freeman's Express companies. 

After a brief career in this line of business, young Barn- 
ert visited the Hawaiian Islands and then hearing of the fortunes 
being made in the gold regions on the Fraser River, took a trip 
to that territory, and although he did not fmd what he had 
sought, he had acquired a knowledge of that country and ex- 
periences which to this day are cherished by him as sweet 
memories. 



21 



CHAPTER III. 

TRYING TIMES DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 

Young Barnert, had now reached unto man's estate, and 
although he was but eighteen, he was tall, rugged and broad 
shouldered with a flush on his cheeks which told of bountiful 
health. Life, mostly out of doors had worked wonders in the 
little fellow of six years ago, and when in 1856, the young man 
returned to New York, he was bubbling over with ambition. 
Mr. Barnert now had a new view of life. He had broadened 
his ability, had strengthened his character and his resolves and 
immediately began to look out for new fields where there were 
opportunities. His adventures as a pack peddler in the gold 
fields stood him in good stead, and he quickly decided that the 
clothing business offered a good investment for him. For two 
years, Mr. Barnert, was engaged in this line of business and 
in 1858, he decided to go to Paterson and there opened a 
tailoring establishment in co-partnership with Marks Cohen, 
on Main Street. Later, Mr. Barnert was associated in the same 
line of business with Solomon Mendelsohn, whose interest he 
subsequently purchased. Mr. Barnert's store was then located 
at 149 Main Street, in the middle of Van Houten Street, be- 
fore that thoroughfare was cut through. 

The City of Paterson of those days was naturally an 
entirely different commonwealth of that of today, as to the 
nature of its geographic outline, its population and resources. 
There were few of the Hebraic faith to be found, in fact, so 
small a number that it was often found difficult to have the 
number of worshippers, required by the Talmudic laws, present 
in the old synagogue adjoining the Dagger mill on Mulberry 
Street, facing the Passaic River. 

In i860 nearly ten years after its incorporation, Paterson 

23 



had a population of 20,428, inclusive of the gain by the act 
of 1854, which added a portion of the Township of Manches- 
ter to the city. In 1865, the population was 24,893- In 1870, 
33,579 and in 1880, 50,950. At the beginning of Mr. Barnert's 
first administration, the population was estimated at 55,000. 
That Paterson was then holding an important position among 
the cities of the State, is shown by stating that the assessed 
value of the real estate property in the city in 1881, was 
$16,952,258, personal property, $3,657,787, total, $20,609,545. 
The total valuation of Paterson, 1914 was $106,002,102^ 
and is given as an indication of how rapidly Paterson has been 
growing since the early days. 

In i860. King Cotton which had been regnant for a long 
period of time was about to be dethroned, the "arm of iron" 
was being bared, while the "sleeve of silk," was still in its 
infancy. The building of locomotives as an industry, was in 
a flourishing condition, the Rogers Locomotive and Machine 
shops on Spruce Street, being in the height of prosperity. 

The cry of the abolitionists of the North was being 
resounded everywhere. The attack on' Fort Sumter, on April 
12, 1 86 1, ushered in the terrible War of the Rebellion. 

Those were critical times. With the first breaking out of 
the war, came hard times and business in general in Paterson 
became stagnant. Mr. Barnert was not idle and worked hard 
to evolve some plan to aid the army of men in need of 
assistance. The opportunity finally came when the need to 
clothe the Union forces became imperative. Mr. Barnert suc- 
ceeded in obtaining large contracts thus giving employment 
to hundreds of poor persons who were on the verge of starva- 
tion. That was Mr. Barnert's first real aid to the fellowmen 
of his adopted city. 

Main Street at this time was composed of stores and 
dwelling houses, mostly buildings of rather ancient date, 
and generally two stories in height. In i860 and in 1861, 
Mendelsohn and Barnert's clothing shop was at 149 Main 

24 



Street and in 1863, it was located at 134 Main Street. Next 
door was the bookbindery and stationery establishment of 
William F. Bertkau, who is still living. At 132 Main Street, 
four doors from Van Houten Street, was Mrs. Dalling's 
millinery parlor and fancy goods and dress trimmings empor- 
ium. Nearby was the dry goods store conducted by Towle and 
Van Dyke, and Michael Moss, a druggist, was located at 113 
Main Street. 

H. A. Williams was Mayor of Paterson, David Burnett, 
Recorder and George Magennis, City Clerk. 

Excise matters were placed in the hands of Judges, elected 
from each of the Five wards. There were ten Aldermen, 
elected, two from each district, the Fifth, North, South, East 
and West Wards. The City Hall was located in the Blauvelt 
Building on Main Street, also known as the Old Town Clock 
Building, between Ellison Street and Congress Street, now 
Market Street. When the Old Town Clock structure v/as 
destroyed by fire, December 14, 1871, the City Hall was 
moved to Washington Street, the present site of Police Head- 
quarters, in a building formerly occupied as a residence by 
Aaron S. Pennington. It was also the home of the Post Office. 

IN A NEW FIELD OF ENDEAVOR. 

The war over, the city eventually returned to its normal 
and Mr. Barnert continued in business steadily expanding from 
year to year. Mr. Barnert, was however always on the look- 
out for opportunities to invest in real estate, 

"I remember," said he recently while in a retrospective 
mood, "that I could have bought all of Main Street on one 
side of the street from Market Street down to Ellison Street, 
forty-seven years ago, for $100 a foot front. I bought the 
property where the Five and Ten Cent Store is now located for 
$50,000 and people thought I was crazy, that something was 
wrong in my head. 

25 



"Samuel Van Saun was one of my best friends. He had 
the property where the Boston store now stands. The property 
was composed of stores, little one story places and you had to 
climb four steps to get into them. There was a store right in 
the middle of Van Houten Street, before that thoroughfare 
was cut through. I was interested in a business on the oppos- 
ite side of the street. I used to play checkers with Uncle 
*'Sammy" every night. He was continually grumbling because 
his tenants would "trim" him out of a month's rent. He got 
fifteen dollars a month for the property. One night in particu- 
lar while at a game of checkers he resumed his grumbling and 
I said to him, 'I will rent that property from you; I will pay 
you thirty dollars a month, but I want you to give me a lease 
for ten or twelve years.' 

"Mr. Van Saun said that the proposition was agreeable to 
him. He then had his lawyer draw a lease for twelve years at 
thirty dollars a month rental. I got a couple of men, jacked 
up the building, put a cellar underneath and secured tenants 
to occupy the stores at fifty dollars a month. That is where I 
erred — the rent was far too cheap. I raised it to seventy-five 
dollars a month the second year and the third year the rent was 
one thousand two hundred dollars. 

"After a while the tax assessors discovered what rent 
was being paid for the building and they boosted the taxes. I 
was paying three hundred and sixty dollars a year for my lease 
and the tenants were paying me twelve hundred dollars. Mr. 
Van Saun had to pay the increased taxes. Do you know that 
he would'nt speak to me afterward. 

"Property sold cheap in Paterson forty-seven years ago. 
One day I came home to dinner and I could'nt eat. My mother 
noticed my apparent indisposition and asked anxiously 'What 
is the matter, Nathan?' I told her that I had had an oppor- 
tunity that day to become a very rich man. I had the money 
but I could'nt take it out of my business. My mother said to 
me, 'Nathan, if you could buy an ox for a penny and you 

26 



didn't have the penny, wouldn't it be rather expensive? You 
go ahead and eat your dinner.' The property I then had in 
mind was just above St. Boniface's Church on Main Street. 
There were six acres, belonging to the Rafferty estate. I 
could have bought the six acres for six hundred dollars. That 
is what the father of Benjamin Kent, the druggist paid for 
those acres." 

Mr. Barnert continued in mercantile life until 1878, when 
he retired in order to devote his attention to his extensive real 
estate interests. In this field of endeavor, Mr. Barnert has 
also succeeded. With his knowledge of the popular welfare 
of what the people want and with rare foresight, Mr. Barnert 
applied a part of his capital to the founding of a new industry 
in Paterson, that of furnishing supplies for paper mills. He 
formed the Annandale Screen Plate Co. Associated in this 
enterprise with Mr. Barnert were Robert A. Haley, and 
William C. Martin. Mr. Barnert retired from this company 
in 1893- 

Mr. Barnert, ever on the lookout for benefits for his city, 
has been one of the most potent factors of his generation in the 
promotion of the material interests of Paterson. He was one 
of the first to undertake the erection of great modern mill 
structures as a speculative project, and how well these hopes 
were realized can well be attested in numerous ways today. 
The first of his great structures, which still stands as a monu- 
ment to his business sagacity is the Barnert mill, at the corner 
of Railroad Avenue and Grand Street and Dale Avenue, com- 
pleted in 1882. 



27 



CHAPTER IV. 

MIRIAM BARNERT. 

On September 2, 1863, Mr. Barnert married Miriam 
Phillips, daughter of Henry L. and Jane (Chapman) Phillips. 
Born in 1837, in Chelsea, England, she had come to this 
country when a young girl and for some years the family 
lived on Forty-Second Street, New York City. Her father 
was, at the time, a furrier on Grand Street, New York, and 
owned property on Main Street, Paterson, where Quackenbush 
Si Co. is now located. 

That Mr. Barnert owes as much of his success to Miriam 
Barnert as he does to his own endeavors, he has often stated. 
What aspirations, ambitions, ideals he held were strengthened 
by her gentleness, her soothing touch, her magnetic personality, 
her nobility of character. The couple were happily mated. 
Through the splendid spirit, the kindly administrations of that 
charming woman, the granite texture of his nature gradually 
underwent a change, followed by a rich vein of imagination, 
poetry and romance. Over their intense identification of the 
present, hovered the mellow afterglow twilight of the past. 
Pathos, research, logic, wit, humor, knowledge of mankind 
were her instruments and she played them all for the best 
service to humanity. 

Like the Baroness de Rothschild, Miriam Barnert was the 
friend of all members of the Israelitish race. Many times had 
the press published news of the apprehension of poor Jewish 
peddlers for selling wares without licenses. Later In the day, 
Mrs. Barnert's carriage would stop st the police station and the 
fine of the peddler paid. Usually Mrs. Barnert would send for 
the unfortunate man and try to ascertain his condition. Were 
he poor, Mrs. Barnert would present him with a purse of money 

29 



and send him on his way with her best wishes. Was there a 
sick of ailing family of the Jewish faith in Paterson, the 
carriage of Mrs. Barnert would be seen at the door and money, 
provisions and delicacies would pour in. 

The same spirit of philanthropy animated Miriam Barnert 
in her family life; she was devoted to her nephews and nieces 
and a constant watcher of their welfare. In the fraternal world 
she was the dominant spirit. In various entertainments planned 
for charity, Mrs. Barnert was always in the lead. She was 
an excellent impromptu speaker and her advice and instruc- 
tions were invariably complied with. 

When Miriam Barnert's life-long battle ended on Sun- 
day afternoon, March 31, 1901, men, women and children 
mourned her. They had lost a friend, whom they had deeply 
revered, one upon whom they had placed so much reliance and 
faith, a woman whose charity was unbounded and whose 
sympathy had quickened the pulses of those with whom she 
had come in contact. And what of her life long partner, 
whose sorrows and joys she had shared? Ordinary measures 
of estimate, sterotyped terms of descriptions are instruments 
which fail in this analysis. The intense love, the admiration, 
the reverence for Miriam Barnert have found expression in 
the handsome memorials which have been built and which are 
in the building today. 

How well Miriam Barnert was beloved can be judged 
when it is said that for the first time in its history, a woman 
was buried from the Barnert Temple an unusual honor, for, 
none but women, who have distinguished their lives by learn- 
ing, benevolence or holiness, are accorded this privilege. 

At the home on Broadway and at the Temple, thousands, 
rich and poor, came to pay homage to their friend and bene- 
factor. The funeral service was in keeping with her lovable 
character — unostentatious. At the Temple, the Rev. Dr. A. 
S. Isaacs, rabbi of the congregation, delivered a most intimate 
eulogy. He was assisted by the Rev. Raphael Benjamin, of 

30 



New York City. There was no floral display, a simple cluster 
of forget-me-nots being the only adornment on the casket of 
a woman, whose life had made adornment unnecessary and 
whose memory will live through the years to come. 

The bearers were Nathan Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, 
Simon Opet, David Bohm, Marcus Cohn, Phillip Katz, 
Alexander Simon and Jacob Levy. 

On the heights of Mount Nebo, looking down the valley 
of dead in Laurel Grove, is an imposing tomb, where is hidden 
the mortal frame work of her 

Who gave her honors to the world again, 

Her iblessed part to Heaven and sleeps in peace. 

EDITOR van's tribute. 

("Editor Van" the late Orrin Vanderhoven was an inti- 
mate friend of the Barnert family. He was a conspicious 
figure in Passaic County for several decades, at one time being 
proprietor of the Paterson Guardian and of late years and 
until his death having contributed articles to the Paterson 
News under the heading "Editor Van's Series." The follow- 
ing appreciation was published in the Paterson Evening News, 
issue of Saturday, September 26, 1902, under "Editor Van's 
Series.") 

The good women mentioned in sacred writ, the honored 
women of ancient Greece, and the noble matrons of Rome, 
have left memories more enduring than monuments of stone 
or tablets of brass. In these days we have just as true and 
faithful wives and mothers in our own land as the former ages 
or older worlds ever saw. 

We can cherish the remembrance of maidens and matrons 
as devoted as Joan D'Arc, or the Lady of Lourdes, and as 
sacred to us as any who were ever led to a sacrifice at the 
stake. 

Last Sunday evening, April 20, 1902, a tribute of affection 
and love for a noble woman was displayed in the Barnert 

31 



Memorial Temple, in the architectural stone edifice, corner of 
Straight Street and Broadway. It was not a tablet but a 
most chaste and artistic work of art, which is so set as to 
place its beautiful lights and shades, as a window to relieve 
the eyes of all those who love to worship, here before the ever- 
living and true God. It was a presentation from the husband 
of Miriam Barnert, whose charity may truly be spoken of as 
extending like a ladder of Jacob, from earth to heaven. 

In good deeds all her life was spent, and hei charity had 
no limit and her sympathy for those in sickness and distress, a 
few parallels. Her first work in this country was to so organ- 
ize those of her faith as to render extreme poverty or neglect 
impossible. In sickness, no matter how difficult or contagious, 
she was there, and none of the very poor were thrown out to 
the public charge. She, with her willing helpers, was constantly 
making up clothing for the worthy poor and the children, 
even of the thriftless and profligate, were not neglected. In 
all the Hebrew Benevolent Organizations she was the moving 
spirit, and even as Joshua's hands were held up, so she held up 
the hands of others who grew faint or weary in the work. 

She was a cheerful light in the world and did not con- 
fine herself to her own blood and race, but was just as kindly 
and generously disposed toward all sects and races, and she 
never tired in doing good. Such was Miriam Barnert, whose 
grieving husband last Sunday evening had deposited as a me- 
mento of her saintly character that beautiful testimonial in 
the rear of the rostrum of the Memorial Temple, as a silent 
and lasting witness of her angelic devotion and godly earth 
work. 

It is well that the enduring virtues of such a woman 
should be kept before the eyes of the people in perpetual re- 
membrance that others may strive to attain that perfection of 
nature which served to embellish the character of Miriam 
Barnert. It is helpful to think of one so lovely in every 
trait and so free from blemish, and ^\'hose whole life was given 

32 



most sacredly to the duties she so unselfishly and zealously 
performed. 

It is proper for one who for the last fifty years was 
acquainted with the Phillips family, when they had their resi- 
dence and store on Grand Street, New York, to write these 
paragraphs, for he was a recipient of many kindnesses. A finer 
father as a citizen and business man could not be found, nor 
a more kindly mother and obedient daughter. They were 
frequently in the store and never were any of these idle for 
even in those days they were never without something to do, 
if not for themselves, for a neighbor. Industry to them was 
natural and it was a duty inherited by the Barnerts on both 
sides, and when the old people at last faded away and died in 
Nathan Barnert's home, it was a parting, sad for even a 
passing friend to see although their whitened hairs went down 
with love and honor to the grave. We had seen them in their 
commendable and honest pride, in the full glory of their 
strength, and to bid adieu to these old landmarks is ever 
sorrowful; but the life of Miriam Barnert was so bright and 
hopeful and her death was so sudden and unexpected, and was 
such a loss to the sick and poor, that it seemed as if she were 
needed here; but God loves a submissive spirit, and if ever a 
soul deserved a transition from earth to heaven, it was this 
woman, who was an angel of goodness, until God in His 
wisdom said, "Come Unto Me." 

TRIBUTE FROM THE CONGREGATION b'nAT JESHURUN. 

At a general meeting of the congregation B'nai Jeshurun, 
Paterson, New Jersey, held in the vestry rooms of the Barnert 
Memorial Temple, April 14, 1901, the following preamble and 
resolutions were unanimously adopted: 

Inasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to remove from 
earthly usefulness our revered friend, Mrs. Mary Barnert, the 
beloved wife of our esteemed president, Honorable Nathan 
Barnert, by her death our president has sustained an irrepa- 

33 



rable loss and the companionship of a worthy helpmate 
whose counsels, amiable qualities and womanly virtues for 
nearly a score of years, made home a haven of rest, joy and 
happiness. 

In her demise our congregation loses a valuable co- 
worker, the community a woman of inestimable worth and 
irreproachable character, the widows and orphans a true friend, 
our religion a faithful daughter of Israel and the world, a 
woman of generous benevolence. 

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that we extend to our presi- 
dent the Honorable Nathan Barnert our heartfelt sympathy 
and may God in His mercy grant him the strength to bear 
his affliction, having full faith in Him who doeth all things 
well. Be it further 

Resolved, that these resolutions be spread in full on the 
minutes and a copy thereof suitably engrossed signed by the 
officers and trustees with the seal of the congregation affixed 
be presented to the bereaved husband, the Honorable Nathan 
Barnert. 

Jacob Levy^ Vice-President, 
Nathan Fleischer, Treasurer, 
David Bilder, Secretary. 

HEBREW ladies' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY PAYS 
TOUCHING TRIBUTE. 

Tribute to the memory of our President, Miriam Barnert: 
Bared in sorrow and grief stricken by the irreparable loss 
which the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society has sustained in 
the death of its President, Sister Miriam Barnert, the members 
assembled in order to place on record what must needs be an in- 
adequate tribute to the memory of her whose loving devotion, 
untiring energy and unflagging interest more than to all other 
causes combined the success of this society and the faithful per- 
formance of philanthropic and benevolent work which it has 
undertaken, has been due. 



34 



The announcement of her death -vill bring sorrow to the 
large circle in which she moved and where her energy, her 
generosity and her clear headed charity won for her the deep 
esteem of her associates. Her death will sadden her relatives 
and friends and be a great loss to her husband and to the 
society whose presiding officer she had been since its organiza- 
tion. Those who will mour her most deeply will be the 
deserving poor, for whom her hand was ever outstretched and 
for whom her purse was ever open. To these Sister Barnert's 
life was a blessing. 

Her memory will be an inspiration to them and to all who 
had the privilege of knowing her. 

To the bereaved husband we extend our heartfelt sympathy, 
and while we know that no expression of ours can abate his 
grief, we pray that He, who alone can temper hio sorrow, will 
comfort him. 

Paterson, New Jersey, April i6, 1901. 

Rose Bohm^ 
Marian Feder^ 
Jennie Diamond, 

Comjiiittee. 

MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL WINDOW. 

On April 20, 1902, a beautiful memorial window in honor 
of Miriam Barnert was placed in the side wall of the Barnert 
Memorial Temple, the gift of the Temple trustees. The 
window is of hexagonal shape and is six feet high and seven feet 
wide. Its coloring consists of beautiful shades of gold, blue and 
red. At the top of the stained glass are Moorish ornamenta- 
tions and directly underneath are two simple scrolls bearing the 
inscription: "In Memory of Miriam Barnert." 

EDITORIAL TRIBUTE, MORNING CALL. 
Paterson, N. J., October 20, 1914. 
Perhaps you did not know Miriam Barnert personally. If 
you had known her and her wide range of charities that covered 

35 



a period of forty years of this city's history, you would have 
been impressed by the greatness of her heart. 

Though a dozen years ago she passed to the Great Beyond, 
her memory still lives. And now, more than ever, it will live, 
for yesterday was laid the cornerstone of a great institution 
to her memory — The Miriam Barnert Hospital — a structure 
that will occupy one of the finest blocks on Broadway and cost 
a quarter of a million dollars. It is the gift of her husband — • 
former Mayor Nathan Barnert — to perpetuate her long and 
noble life. 

Miriam Phillips came of a wealthy Hebrew family, one 
of her brothers being twice Lord Mayor of London, while 
another brother had filled the office of a London Alderman for 
any successive terms. But her life was largely lived in this 
country, the most of it in this city. A domestic woman who 
believed in a home, a patriotic woman who believed in the 
American flag and government, a spcial woman who believed in 
human relations; not the relations of the rich to the rich, or the 
poor to the poor, or the educated to the educated, but the rela- 
tion of humanity to humanity, without regard to condition or 
circumstance of position; a woman believing in those common, 
homely, eternal virtues that makes life rich and strong and sweet 
and wholesome. 

She went through the world doing good, leaving behind 
her a path of light. It was not her wealth, though she had 
plenty of it; it was not position that counted with her; It was 
the use of wealth; the use of position, its faithfulness, its faith, 
its hope. 

The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital will soon open its 
doors to all suffering humanity and add another monument to 
the woman whose life impressed us by the greatness of her 
charities. 



36 




MIRIAM BARNERT. 



CHAPTER V. 



IN PUBLIC LIFE. 



Now we come to the public life of Mr. Barnert. His 
exemplary honesty and uprighteousness did not fail him in public 
station. In public as in private life, he has ever been the same 
strict adherent of truth, the same champion of justice and the 
same unswerving advocate of honest means and honest methods. 
Mr. Barnert from his young manhood had taken a deep interest 
in public affairs. With him this inclination seemed to be a 
special genius for public and political life. 

His fellow citizens honored him, and he honored them in 
return in the faithful and conspicious discharge of official 
duties. Paterson, in those days was naturally a Republican 
city and notwithstanding that the Republicans were in the 
control in public office, Mr. Barnert, a sturdy Democrat then, 
as he is now, was delegated by the Board of Aldermen in 1870, 
to make a special investigation of the city's finances and tax 
accounts. At that time there had been undefined but general 
belief in the popular mind that the city government was being 
conducted exclusively for the benefit of the politicians and their 
friends. That dishonesty was rampant, was freely rumored 
and there were surface indications that certain persons, entrusted 
with the conduct of municipal affairs, were indifferent as long 
as they were not molested. 

That was the condition of affairs when Mr. Barnert 
began his investigation. Mr. Barnert soon found that he had 
a tremendous task in hand, and despite apparently insurmounta- 
ble obstacles, the work was at last finished. So thorough was 
this work, that the city prosecuted a number of officials who 
finally landed in the New Jersey State Prison. 

37 



Gradually, Mr. Barnert increased his sphere of activity 
and influence. He became a power in the politics of the city. 
His political acumen became traditional. His loyalty was a 
constant inspiration. His counsels were listened to in the 
executive chamber and his voice was heeded. It was therefore 
not surprising that the citizens of Paterson finally prevailed 
upon him to relinquish the comfort of private life for the toil 
and moil of public office. 

The Sixth Ward, was then as strongly Republican as is its 
lleanings toward the Democracy today. Mr. Barnert was given 
the Democratic nomination for Alderman from that ward 
and his opponent was **Bob" McCullough. Mr. Barnert and 
his supporters waged an unrelenting campaign and in the 
Spring, of 1876, he was sent to the City Hall, defeating Mr. 
McCullough by a handsome majority. Mr. Barnert served 
for two years and stood the test so well, that his constituents on 
April 14, 1879, returned him to the Council Chamber for 
another term. 

Mr. Barnert had always opposed trickery and jobbery in 
the city council and through his watchfulness of municipal 
affairs had annually saved thousands of dollars to the tax- 
payers. The proceedings of the Aldermen were always enlivened 
by his presence and while his enemies poured their wrath on 
him, the citizens generally admired and praised him and won- 
dered at his unyielding fight against graft and grafters. The 
public requirements of American character have been increas- 
ing in their intensity from year to year. When a public man 
is brought in contact with the universal observation of an 
office such as held by Mr. Barnert, he undergoes the close, 
careful inspection of all classes of people. Now when it can 
be said that a man such as he, brought under this strict lens 
of observation, has proved himself worthy of the confidence 
of the people, what higher tribute can the tongue of man 
pronounce ? 

38 



NOMINATION AND ELECTION. 

But the citizens of Paterson were not yet satisfied. There 
was an insistent demand that Mr. Barnert run for Mayor. 
He finally acquiesced to the wishes of his friends and per- 
mitted the mention of his name as candidate in the election 
the following Spring. 

Mr. Barnert was nominated at the Democratic City Con- 
vention held in the Germania Assembly Rooms, Market Street, 
on Wednesday evening, April 5, 1883. The convention was 
called to order at 8.20 o'clock by the late Thomas Flj^nn. 
William J. St. Lawrence was elected Secretary and Dr. Quin, 
permanent Chairman. 

Nathan Barnert and Dr. Quin were nominated. The 
First, Second, Third and Fourth Wards voted for Mr. Barn- 
ert, the Fifth for Dr. Quin, and the Sixth, Seventh and 
Eighth for Mr. Barnert who was made the unanimous choice 
of the convention when Dr. Quin withdrew. 

Mr. Barnert's opponent was David T. Gillmore, Republi- 
can with Mr. Wiggin running on the Prohibition ticket. The 
campaign throughout that week was a spectacular one with 
nightly meetings held in the old Apollo Hall on Van 
Houten Street, now the Lyceum Theatre, and in the highways 
and byways of the town. There were bitter recriminations on 
all sides, friends of both candidates equally raising the cry of 
''boodle" funds, to influence the election one way or the other. 
Detectives were employed to ferret out those guilty of bribery, 
so bitter and unrelenting was the struggle. 

Finally, election day arrived, Monday, April 9, 1883. 
There was a rush to the polls. The result swayed one way and 
then the other. Toward the late afternoon, Mr. Barnert 
suddenly gained new strength and spurted ahead of his rival, 
and until the polls closed the result was never in doubt. The 
final vote stood, for Mr. Barnert, 4,327; for Mr. Gillmore, 
3,459, and for Mr. Wiggin, 292. Mr. Barnert's plurality 
was 868. 



39 



On the day following the election, Prosecutor Eugene 
Stevenson, now a Vice-Chancellor in the New Jersey Court 
of Chancery, made the following statement: 

''It has been the cheapest election on both sides that ever 
took place in Paterson. Both parties had detectives employed 
and I had detectives watching them both. I have not heard of 
a case of suspected bribery. It was the most honest election 
we have ever had." 

Said the Paterson Guardian, Democratic, which paper 
had warmly espoused Mr. Barnert's cause: "It is the first 
time in the history of the Republican party in this city that they 
were ever frightened out of buying the purchasable vote. There 
was a large corruption fund raised, but they were afraid to 
use it. Mr. Barnert spent no money except to pay for his 
printing. Paterson wheels into the Democratic line. Greet- 
ings to Chicago, Cincinnatti, St. Louis and Cleveland." And 
two days later: "Mayor Barnert has only been elected one 
day and yet Broadway has been cleared up already." 

One of the political hits of the campaign which was widely 
quoted was " 'And Nathan said unto David, thou art the 
man' — That's going to get left." 



40 



CHAPTER VI. 

MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT. 

Although elected to the highest office within the gift of 
the people of Paterson, Mr. Barnert was not exultant. He 
knew there was a duty to be performed and he faced that 
duty, rockribbed by integrity and probity. There was no 
entrance for malignity and vindictiveness, but stern resolve 
to honestly administer his duty. The enmity evolved by the 
heat of partisanship and political strife passed by him as the 
wind. The voice of duty alone prevailed. Mr. Barnert was 
not troubled with illusions nor bound by theories. He was 
practical, yet sympathetic; a master workman, determined to 
do his best and seeing to it that his fellow men in office did 
likewise, in accordance with the sworn oaths they had taken. 

One week following the election, April i6, 1883, Mayor 
Barnert read his first message to the Board of Aldermen. The 
City Hall was then located on Washington Street, the present 
site of Police Headquarters. Mr. Barnert's first recommenda- 
tion was an appeal for the erection of a commodious park 
"where the laboring men of our city, with their wives and 
children after their labors are ended, may resort to for comfort 
and refreshment. They would not only be useful for refresh- 
ment and ornamentation, but would also furnish a place where 
sick children and convalescent children of the city might be 
taken to enjoy fresh air and pure water." 

Mr. Barnert had a further recommendation that the city 
''Construct at proper places free public hydrants where pure 
water can be obtained by the people for themselves and horses." 

The Mayor, pointed to the obstruction of the "Horse 
Railroad," declaring that the corporation should be compelled 
to comply with the provisions of its charter in the matter of 

41 



street repairs. This was followed by a recommendation that 
the city should undertake the construction of a city hospital, 
for the treatment of isolated cases. In referring to the message 
the Guardian said: "Mayor Barnert's first message has several 
points deserving commendation. The principal one is its 
brevity. It is the short, sharp, terse, practical communication 
that we might expect to come from a business man. He says 
more within the limits of a column than some mayors have 
expressed in several columns. Mayor Barnert, a year hence 
cannot make his message any better by making it longer 
than this." 

Mayor Barnert, ever guarding the city's interests, was in 
constant attendance at meetings of the Board of Aldermen and 
frequently made suggestions and more frequently participated 
in the debates. That there were some city fathers who evidently 
had the idea that the only duty devolving upon the Mayor, 
was the reading of his annual message, became manifest In the 
course of several spirited meetings. There was a rumbling of 
rebellion and how serious was the situation can be judged from 
the following reprinted from the Guardian, of May 19, 1883: 

"There are several Aldermen who think that the Com- 
mittee on Licenses should report to the Board before licenses 
are granted. While there is a little question about this being 
the correct Idea, yet it is very doubtful if enough votes can be 
obtained to secure its adoption. Some of the Republican Alder- 
men think the Mayor has no right to participate in the dis- 
cussions of meetings of the Board of Aldermen. "If he don't 
let up we're going to sit down on him," said one of them. 
That would make some fun, for Mayor Barnert is not a man 
who can easily be sat on." 

MAYOR BARNERT BEGINS REFORMS. 

Mr. Barnert soon found he had a herculean task in his 
reform movements as the City Charter practically gave him 

42 



no power and the Republican Aldermen as a result persisted 
in ignoring him. 

There was faulty inspection, stupid bungling work in the 
laying of sewers and grades of streets, notably Broadway and 
Clay Street. Mayor Barnert made a personal investigation 
of the Broadway sewer where no connections had been made 
to the side walk. It was the old story, the work had to be 
torn up and done properly. Mayor Barnert insisted wherever 
it could be done all supplies should be purchased after due 
advertisement and should go to the lowest bidder. He objected 
to borrowing money at six per cent from the banks to meet 
maturing notes when the city money was lying idle in the 
same banks. He insisted that Aldermanic committees should 
meet in accordance with their rules. He held that sewers 
should be built of the best material and sufficiently adequate to 
meet the needs of the future. He suspended a city official for 
carelessness which action was approved of by the Board of 
Aldermen. He had a change made in separating the sane 
inmates of the Almshouse from the insane. He compelled 
the superintendent to keep proper books of accounts of all 
transactions relating to the city's farm. 

On one occasion Mayor Barnert refused to sign bonds 
for the Eastside sewer, contending that it should be constructed 
of brick and not of cement. The matter was taken to court 
and the Mayor eventually won. It was estimated that the 
Mayor had saved the city over $100,000 in this matter alone. 

Interests inimical to Mayor Barnert set up a howl and 
charges were made that "the Mayor was too hasty." Mayor 
Barnert promptly made his enemies run to cover and in an 
excellently written article to the Paterson Press, defended his 
position, if any defense was necessary. How the Mayor stood 
in the matter was clearly told in these trenchant words: 

"Now I am fighting the faults of the system, not any 
incumbent and it does the man no good to attempt to put in- 
dignity upon me. What I am; and the value of my word can 

43 



be vouched for by the good people of the community, who have 
known me for thirty years. My existence does not depend 
upon 'public pap' nor the caprice of politicians. I can get 
along comfortably without the 'respect' of him (referring to an 
inspector in charge of some city work) and his ilk, when 
conscious of no wrong. A comparatively obscure stranger, he 
cannot make me swerve, even single handed, if necessary, from 
my purpose to fight loose methods and mismanagement, no 
matter whose toes are trod on. 

"My 'political aspirations' are overestimated^ Public 
office has no charm for me. To be serviceable to the people 
who have put their trust in me as executive, is my aim. It is 
my only object to accomplish a more careful, honest, systematic 
method of business." 

Neither the partiality of friendship nor the interests of 
individuals warped his judgment or tinctured his decision. 
Through all his official acts that peculiar quality of clear- 
sightedness seemed to clothe him with wisdom and directed him 
with unerring certainty. Courage of a high order, inflexible 
determination were manifest. The rigors of office did not 
harden the softness of the Mayor's heart. The fountain of 
human sympathy on the contrary was ever warm and living, 
and he preserved an open mind not only to the necessities of the 
public but also the needs of the individual. 

THE NEEDY NOT FORGOTTEN. 

To care for his fellowman is a task highly congenial to 
Mr. Barnert's soul. His donations of his official salary as 
Mayor to the hospitals and the poor, irrespective of creed, 
surprised the public and even his enemies. It was an example 
of political liberality that is rarely met with. 

The wolf had been kept away from many a poor man's 
door by his helping hand and the recipient of his bounty often 
remains ignorant of his benefactor's name, as often the world 
at large. "The blessed of the Almighty are the rich who have 

44 



the humility of the poor and the poor who have the magnani- 
mity of the rich." 

David Henry, of the David Henry Building Company, 
told this incident which took place during Mayor Barnert's 
first administration. 

"One winter," said Mr. Henry, *'I had my sympathies 
attracted to a poor Swede, whose family through an accident 
was deprived of support. They were in grievous distress. Sick- 
ness and hunger prevailed in the little household." Mr. Henry 
told Mr. Barnert of the circumstances and the Mayor said: 

"I've a month's salary now due, which I was about to 
give as usual to some charitable institution; but I guess that 
it will do as much good in this family as anywhere else." 
Mr. Henry got the money, went to the poor Swede's house 
and handed it to his wife. The poor woman could hardly 
understand this good fortune and utterly refused to receive the 
money, saying they would all be murdered if they kept so much 
money about them. She would not take more than $4 at a 
time and made Mr. Henry keep the rest, and to give her $4 
each week. Concluded Mr. Henry, "that distressed family 
had been living on that money all winter." 

Mr. Barnert's various activities in the fields of philan- 
thropy will perhaps never be known. No distinction of his 
successful life is more characteristic of the man, his ideals, his 
aims and ambitions, than the fact that his success is shared 
by the community and is participated in by his fellow citizens 
in all walks of life. It was his early identification with the 
popular welfare, his knowledge of what the people want, his 
power both to lead and to express public opinion, which 
enabled him to triumph over obstacles and which has given 
him the wide and commanding influence of today. There is no 
affectation in Mr. Barnert. Charity and goodness of heart 
are natural to and exercised by him in an unostentatious way. 
In his intercourse with men there is also prevalent a spirit of 

45 



kindness and good will. To one and all his deportment is 
amiable, unassuming. 

How well these official duties were guarded can be noted 
from the records. During his administration an Alderman was 
indicted for receiving money from a butcher for giving him a 
contract for supplies. Another city officer was indicted for 
embezzlement and malfeasance in office, a superintendent was 
indicted on serious charges, another city board secretary was 
indicted for malfeasance in office. Mr. Barnert's conduct was 
just and honorable, his dignity spurned all that was worthless 
and mean and his virtues lent a charm that won him a legion 
of friends. 

With this proud record before them, it was therefore 
natural for the honest voters of the city, at the end of his first 
term in office, to demand that Mayor Barnert be nominated and 
elected for a second term to continue the work of reform. 

There was great rejoicing when Mr. Barnert finally con- 
sented to run for another term, this determination to continue 
in office if possible, becoming stronger as *'the interests" grew 
bolder and defied him. The Republicians placed in the field 
their best available candidate, Charles D. Beckwith, who was 
highly honored and esteemed in the community. It was a bold 
master stroke the Republicians played and with the aid of 
every agency known only in those days, encompassed the defeat 
of Mr. Barnert. 

This was in the Spring of 1885. In the following year, 
a delegation of prominent Democrats called at Mr. Barnert's 
home on Broadway and persuaded him to take the nomination 
for Congress. Mr. Barnert, however, at that time had under- 
taken an extensive program of charitable works and was also 
busy retrieving the business interests neglected somewhat in 
the heat of the campaign. Through the influence of Mr. 
Barnert, the nomination was given to Mr. Cornelius Cadmus, 
who was elected to that high office. 

46 



CHAPTER VII. 

RE-ELECTION OF MAYOR BARNERT. 

In 1888, the people of Paterson finally persuaded Mr. 
Barnert to reenter politics being accorded the mayoralty nomi- 
nation of his party, opposing Peter Ryle, Republican. 

The Democratic City Convention was held in the Ger- 
mania Assembly rooms, on Market Street, on Monday evening, 
April I, 1889. It was 8.15 o'clock when Frank McCaffrey 
ascended the platform and read the call. On motion of ex- 
Sheriff William Douglas, Alderman Thomas McCoy of the 
Second Ward was chosen temporary Chairman and John J. 
Brady of the Seventh Ward, temporary Secretary. 

When the convention was called to order, the committee 
on permanent organization reported in favor of William J. 
Douglas, of the First Ward for permanent Chairman and John 
J. Brady of the Seventh Ward for permanent Secretar>^ This 
report was unanimously adopted. Nominations for Mayor were 
declared to be in order. The First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth 
Wards named Nathan Barnert, the Second Ward, Ex-Judge 
Frank Van Cleve and Barnert, the Sixth Ward, Van Cleve 
and Ex-Judge Elliott and the Seventh Ward, Aldermen Rj^an 
and Fanning. When the name of the Alderman from the 
Eighth Ward was called, he at once stated he wished to with- 
draw in favor of Mr. Barnert. The first ballot resulted as 
follows : 

The First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Wards, five 
votes each for Mr. Barnert; the Second Ward, three for 
Mr. Van Cleve and two for Mr. Barnert; the Third Ward, 
three for Mr. Barnert and two for Mr. Van Cleve; the Sixth 
Ward, five for Mr. Van Cleve; the Seventh Ward, five for 
Mr. Ryan. Alderman Ryan immediately withdrew his name 



47 



in favor of Mr. Barnert, whose nomination was then made 
unanimous. 

Mr. Barnert at his home was about to retire when Alder- 
men Fanning and Ryan and Mr. James C. Sigler, called on 
him, informed him of his nomination and requested his appear- 
ance at the hall. 
Mr. Barnert's Speech of Acceptance of Nomination. 

Although Mr. Barnert had suffered severe pain during 
an illness of two month's duration, the excitement of the cam- 
paign, with the harmless "bombast" of his enemies, seemed to 
have revived his old time buoyancy. As he stood on the plat- 
form, the audience quickly noticed a set determination in his 
expressive eyes which seemed to indicate victory ahead. He 
raised his hand to enjoin silence and said: 

"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: To accept this nomi- 
nation or not, that is the question presented for my consideration. 
If I were to consult my inclination for rest, my health and 
comfort and my private affairs, I ought certainly step back 
into private life. But I have the feeling within me that I 
ought not desert the cause now, when the success of the 
hungry pack around the City Hall would embolden them to do 
bolder acts of plunder." 

Mayor Barnert then launched into a defence of the city 
charter form of government for Paterson, which was being 
advocated in the Legislative halls at Trenton, rehearsed the 
various scandals brought to light during his administration. 
He continued: 

"I may be stepping on somebody's toes but I cannot help it. 
Some of our newspaper men belong to cliques and are com- 
pelled to write at the dictation of their party bosses. One of 
the main features of the new charter is to do away with this 
system, as it provides for a commission, which would regulate 
that part of the city's business in such a way that no news- 
paper would ever be handicapped by bossism. * * * 
Now my friends let me tell you right here that I have not 

48 



sought this nomination and will now willingly give $500 to the 
Sister's Hospital and an equal amount to the General Hospital, 
if you will relieve me and select another candidate. I know I 
need rest as I have been abused by those rascals in the City 
Hall. It was the ''ring" connected with the City Government 
that defeated the new charter, and I am prepared to prove 
it with the assistance of others who were with me at 
Trenton. * * * They tell you that I threatened to expose 
matters and that I have utterly failed to unearth anything 
that would bring the blush of shame to a Republican cheek. 
Have I not broken up one of the worst houses that ever 
existed on the face of the civilized globe? Have I not 
listened to the pleadings of clergymen and laymen to spare 
the man who conducted this place? Are you aware that as 
many as eighty persons of high standing in this city went 
before the grand jury and defeated justice? * * * ^t 
the present time there are seven indictments hanging over 
the head of the man who managed the affairs of the Alms- 
house, and I have evidence in my possession that would cause 
twenty-seven more to be issued against him. 

"Now that I have mentioned that institution, allow me a 
few minutes to explain how the * * * visitors enjoyed life 
there, in addition to profiting from the toil of the paupers. 
Knowing that things were crooked at the Almshouse, I con- 
cluded to make an investigation. One morning I sent a very 
intelligent pauper there and provided him with a book. Another 
morning I went to the farm and inquired of the superintendent 
if he had received any money from the product of the land. 
Being informed that not one cent was being derived by the 
city, I told him of my information and advised him to make 
a return of the money, or I would have him arrested. The 
next morning Cyrus W. Baldwin, the city treasurer received 
$90 from that institution. * * *" 



49 



RE-NOMINATION RATIFIED. 

The re nomination of Mayor Barnert was ratified amid 
stirring scenes in the old Turn Hall, Cross and Ellison 
Streets. It was not strictly a Democratic meeting, but an 
outpouring of the masses of people having a common interest 
in the conduct of the municipal government and as administered 
by Mr. Barnert. 

The meeting was called to order shortly c^fter eight o'clock 
by Edward Cody, chairman of the Democratic City Com- 
mittee, who called for nominations for president of the meeting. 
Albert D. Winfield was selected. The first speaker was lawyer 
George S. Hilton. He said in part: 

*'Mr. Barnert has devoted his time to seeing that there was 
no jobbery and I suppose a good many people did not like him. 
They would much prefer to have him stay away from the City 
Hall and attend to his private business. What they want is a 
mere figurehead, a Mayor who will come and go only at the 
bidding of subordinate officers. But our Republician friends 
may ask, 'what has the Mayor done?' Well, now suppose that 
he did not accomplish anything; don't we all know that he is 
constantly on the watch, and people who know that they are 
being watched will do less wrong than if they knew nobody 
was watching them. The Mayor, however, has proved by his 
discoveries that the Board of Aldermen need watching. He 
has shown up corruption, something which none of his prede- 
cessors ever attempted." 

Mr. Hilton then called the attention of the audience to 
extravangantes in the purchase of harness, horses, and elbows 
for plumbing at the Almshouse. "These elbows," said Mr. 
Hilton, ''cost the city $2 apiece when they could have been 
bought for fifty cents each." 

William B. Gourley, who was then County Prosecutor, 
also made an address, part of which follows: 

"We are met to-night to ratify the nomination of Nathan 
Barnert for Mayor and judging from the applause heard here, 

50 



we have assurances that he will be successful on next Monday. 
* * * In a list of delicacies read to you, Mr. Hilton did not 
say anything of the high seasoned groceries which had been 
carted o£E to the Almshouse at the expense of the taxpayers. 
Nor did he tell you of the revelations made by the Grand Jury 
composed of honest men of both parties. * * * Who told 
you that old men were put in the cubby hole at the Almshouse 
and chained to the walls for hours? Was not all this brought 
to light by Mayor Barnert, and now do the people want to 
make the city more infamous by failing to re-elect him? Again, 
who helped to bring to light the charge upon which an indict- 
ment is now hanging over the head of one Alderman who is a 
candidate for re-election? * * * I say that good govern- 
ment requires the success of Nathan Barnert in this campaign." 

Mr. Barnert waged his campaign on the issue of "Munici- 
pal Reform." Every other question was secondary and sub- 
servient. The question to be decided was whether a faithful 
public servant was to be beaten or rewarded for his excellent 
services to the community. 

The campaign was a spectacular one the same bitter 
recriminations being hurled by supporters of both candidates 
and the same methods being employed to encompass Mr. 
Barnert's defeat, as in the previous pre-election struggle. The 
political battle was waged right along to the very eve of elec- 
tion, and although the leaders on both sides made their usual 
exaggerated predictions for the public, still they had a strong 
doubt as to the outcome when the ballots had been counted. 



51 



The election was held on April 8, 1889, and how close 
was the vote can be seen from the following table: 







Barnert 


Ryle 


Beggs 


Ward 


District 


Dem, 


Rep. 


Pro. 


First 


First 


226 


357 


7 


First 


Second 


195 


501 


5 


Second 


First 


285 


457 


13 


Second 


Second 


465 


542 


ID 


Third 


First 


157 


217 




Third 


Second 


270 


407 


3 


Third 


Third 


226 


370 


13 


Third 


Fourth 


179 


221 


I 


Fourth 


First 


135 


276 


7 


Fourth 


Second 


238 


454 


5 


Fourth 


Third 


86 


154 


... 


Fifth 


First 


424 


247 


I 


Fifth 


Second 


567 


465 


4 


Sixth 


First 


149 


248 


2 


Sixth 


Second 


283 


203 


2 


Seventh 


First 


367 


123 


3 


Seventh 


Second 


368 


195 




Eighth 


First 


449 


173 




Eighth 


Second 


320 


125 


6 


Eighth 


Third 


701 


295 


9 




Total 


..6,090 


6,030 


91 


Maj( 


:)rity for Barnert. . 


52 


..60. 





PATERSON DAILY GUARDIAN. 
Paterson, N. J., April 9, 1889. 

HIS RECORD APPROVED. 

The citizens of Paterson are to be congratulated upon 
Nathan Barnert's election to the mayoralty. It was a substan- 
tial triumph for honest municipal government, showing that a 
public official who does his whole duty, without fear or favor, 
cannot be deprived of a place in popular confidence by persistent 
calumnies or beaten at the polls by a profuse expenditure of 
money. During the recent brief campaign, Mr. Barnert was 
personally maligned in the most brutal manner, and a larger 
sum was expended to accomplish his defeat than had ever before 
been disbursed at a charter election in this city. His victory 
over mis-representation, money and treachery in the ranks of 
his own party, was due to the record he made when Mayor 
of Paterson. The Republican politicians and organs courted 
this issue, and it brought them disaster. Mr. Barnert was 
elected Mayor because a majority of the people remembered 
his former administration of the office, and wished it repeated. 
They believed that he would be watchful of their interests and 
earnestly strive to promote the progress of the city. It is 
greatly to be regretted, however, that the Mayor will not have 
the cooperation of a Board of Aldermen in political sympathy 
with him. Properly supported, he could bring about a great 
many reforms in the administration of municipal affairs and 
inaugurate a series of improvements which would render 
Paterson the comfortable home for its residents and the pleas- 
urable attraction for strangers that its population, wealth and 
natural advantages should contribute to make it. Mr. Barnert 
holds that the taxpayers should get a dollar's worth for every 
dollar entrusted to their official representatives, but he also be- 
lieves that money judiciously spent for public improvements, 
is wisely invested. During his previous term as Mayor a 



53 



Republican Board of Aldermen maintained an attitude of angry 
opposition to him, but we hope that the board about to be 
organized will show good sense and public spirit. 

mayor's message to aldermen. 

During the first year of Mayor Barnert's second adminis- 
tration, countless faults were found with the "system," efforts 
were made to rectify conditions generally. That first year's 
work is best told in Mr. Barnert's annual message to the Board 
of Aldermen. On March 20, 1890, Mayor Barnert once more 
called attention to the flaws in the municipal government 
system, the derelictions of officials and the urgent need for 
reform. Mayor Barnert deplored the fact that the new Char- 
ter had not become a reality. 

"Friendly co-operation and not partisanship will attain 
the best results," he said, adding: "If on some matters we will 
not think alike, let us strive honestly to reconcile our views 
and by careful, unceasing devotion to public business achieve 
successful government. 

"That too many assume the power to expend money is the 
great defect of our frame of government. Responsibility lacks. 
Uppermost in the minds of the city is the crying need of 
reform. For the practical needs of to-day something ought 
to be effected now, if at all, "by much sloth the building 
decayeth." 

"Afflicting events were visited upon sister cities, fires, inun- 
dations, cyclones and epidemics; the Johnstown, Pa., deluge 
being especially notable for great loss of life, the greatest in 
modern history. With characteristic generosity our people 
quickly met the emergency by a handsome contribution of 
money, food and clothing. We have been spared by a merciful 
Providence and favored with a gratifying, unprecedented 
growth; our industries have prospered and our working classes 
have been employed. To keep pace with our city's rapid 

54 



development the outlying districts particularly will demand all 
our energy. 

"While heartily favoring liberal measures of improvement, 
waste of money or improper municipal legislation (the rule 
rather than the exception heretofore) will find in me a stubborn 
opponent. To induce committees to attend to the routine of 
the duties has been found impossible; they will not meet regu- 
larly, as required to examine bills. Irregularity and shiftless- 
ness, the inevitable result, was lately fruitfully experienced; 
the sad fall of one officer from a position of public trust to 
that of an absconder, defaulter, forger; the suspension and 
removal of another * * * for illegal acts; the pre- 
sentment of still others for wrong-doing by a grand jury, and 
exposures in abundance of abuses and excesses in the public 
service — Almshouse abuses in particular. But a few days ago 
a case in point came to light. Harness at an exorbitant price 
was bought for the fire department without the least pretense 
of authority. One of the committee, weeks after the said pur- 
chase, comes to the Board meeting to ask for authority. As in 
the "Gallagher" lamp swindle, so in this and numerous similar 
cases — first they commit themselves illegally and afterward get 
the required authority from an indulgent Board. Much can 
justly be said on this head, would occasion allow. Suffice it to 
state that no mercantile house would for one moment tolerate 
such loose methods." 

Referring to an excess of $56,334.68 derived from the 
revenue from liquor licenses, the Mayor demanded; "What 
has become of the balance? What public benefit has it 
wrought? New indulgences, unjustifiable outlays — rather than 
put the money to the legitimate use of paying our debt. Per- 
nicious has been the moral effect; every pretext under the sun 
has been used to obtain "grabs," engineering jobbery, degen- 
eracy. "Easy comes, easy goes," money with nearly every in- 
dividual." 



55 



That politics also seriously handicapped the police depart- 
ment, is inferred from the following: 

"This department, if any, is in sad need of reform. Dis- 
cipline is seriously affected by the influence of political and 
other causes. To improve our police, a system, independent of 
political interference, should be provided. 

"The wilful defiance and disobedience of the orders of 
those higher in authority will not then be possible by an officer 
who may happen to have some political "pull" and the discipline 
of our police force will then be properly enforced." 

"This department," (referring to the Almshouse), "I 
regret to be compelled to say, merits no favorable mention. It 
has been demonstrated by palpable proof that squandering to 
an almost incredible extent and abuses have been going on. But 
far worse than all, occurrences unfit to particularize here have 
made this institution of public charity into a house of horrors. 
"Touching the excesses, the costly extravagances which a par- 
tial investigation of this one branch of the public service has 
brought to the surface, it is safe to assert, that $io,ooo to 
$12,000 were squandered here last year, and that if the 
Almshouse could be placed under the control of an independent 
commission, it could be run for one-half of the $24,523.43 it 
cost the past year." 

After calling attention to other rules that could be enforced, 
the lack of proper enforcement of the fire laws, the Mayor 
commended the Board of Health, and other departments for 
their good work, and then closed his message with the follow- 
ing words: 

"It has been the crowning act of shame and fair-minded 
men were outraged by the sorry spectacle of narrow-minded 
partisanship, which in the matter of chairmanships of Board 
Committees, last year stooped so low as to ostracize acknowl- 
edged worth of years of eminent service by setting up inexperi- 
ence above experience. Such partisanship I hope will cease, it 

56 



being unbecoming, unchivalric, unwise. To conclude, great 
material opportunities are in your reach to win public respect 
and commendation." 

Notwithstanding these warnings, conditions were far from 
satisfactory to the Mayor, and nearly four months later, on 
July 7, 1890, Mr. Barnert addressed the following communi- 
cation to the Board of Aldermen: 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. 

Paterson, N. J., July 7, 1890. 
The Board of Aldermen: 

I am compelled to refer to an unpleasant matter in the 
belief that an abuse of a very flagrant nature may be corrected. 
A review of your recent official minutes shows your proceedings 
are a delusion and a farce, and anything but creditable to the 
city. From what I am about to disclose, it will be plainly 
demonstrated that a more responsible management is wanted, 
and that the duties of a President of the Board should be 
clearly defined, to include the practical carrying out of the 
Board's measures. In your proceedings on April 7th, a 
measure was adopted substantially as follows: — That two sets 
of harness be procured for use of the Fire Department, and 
that they be procured by soliciting proposals. Now, please 
note what was done since. Nearly three months have elapsed, 
and Board meeting upon Board meeting and Committee meet- 
ing upon Committee meeting have taken place, and yet no 
proposals have been solicited, no action taken and no apparent 
intention manifested to live up to the proceedings of April 7th. 
Do the Board proceedings go for anything? Or are they 
merely a matter of form? Grover Cleveland, ex-Mayor of 
Buffalo, who since acquired first place in the respect of the 
nation quoted the following words in his message eight years 
ago: "It seems to me that a successful and faithful administra- 
tion of the government of our city may be accomplished by con- 

57 



stantly bearing in mind that we are the trustees and agents of 
our fellow citizens, holding their funds in sacred trust to be 
expended for their benefit; that we should, at all times, be pre- 
pared to render an honest account of them, touching the 
manner of their expenditure, and that the affairs of the city 
should be conducted, as far as possible upon the same principles 
as those by which a good business man manages his private 
concerns." 

These words apply very aptly to our city's administration. 
I have a claim for harness before me, which were bought from 
Mr. Hopson in March — recollect please, March — for several 
hundred dollars, the identical harness then bought illegally 
without authority. It is this claim which it is sought to be 
foisted on the city by make believe legislation of a too indulgent 
Board on April 7th. Does it not look bad in the minutes? 
Does it not show that your proceedings are a sham and a farce. 
That it should be made the duty of some one, say the presiding 
officer of your body, to see to the carrying out of the measures 
of your Board? Ought not your body as a measure of self- 
protection, self-respect, right itself on this issue taking it 
specially in hand and thus purge itself of wrong or faulty mat- 
ters? In deference to public sentiment alone, your Board 
should not allow this matter to pass by without adequate 
action. 

Nathan Barnert, Mayor. 

THE "GALLAGHER^' LAMP INCIDENT. 

Mr. Arnold Levy, tells the following incident, one of many 
which enlivened the proceedings of the Board of Aldermen in 
the old days: 

"Alderman — ^we will call him Gallagher — at a regular 
meeting of the Board of Aldermen, proposed that the city pur- 
chase street lamps. The Mayor made up his mind to investi- 
gate, and one day on his rounds, discovered at the old city scale 

S8 



house on Bridge Street, something like 1,500 lamps, which were 
in fairly good condition and could be used for awhile to come. 
He naturally meant to mention that at the next meeting of the 
Board. However, to his amazement, at the next Board meet- 
ing, Mr. Gallagher stated that 1,800 lamps had been purchased 
from a New York firm at a cost of $3.75 each. The Mayor 
knowing something about the value of lamps, made up his mind 
to investigate the matter very thoroughly. He secured the 
name of the firm who supplied the lamps and made a trip to 
New York, going to the lamp concern and stated that he was 
from Pittsburg and that the city of Pittsburg needed 1,000 
lamps. If they would quote him the closest possible price, no 
doubt they would get the order, providing their samples were 
satisfactory. They were glad to take the order at $1.75 per 
lamp and were told by the Mayor to send a sample lamp to a 
wholesale clothing house (where the Mayor was doing busi- 
ness with at the time), and marked them for Mr. Blank, of 
Pittsburg. In the meantime he instructed the clothing house to 
forward the lamps to him by express. 

"The night of the meeting of the Aldermen when the bill 
for the lamps was to be presented arrived, and the city fathers 
were assembled and duly called to order, when Mr. Barnert, 
with an imposing looking package under his arm, in strange 
contrast with his usually dignified bearing, strode in. There 
was an onimous shifting of feet, for the entrance of the Mayor 
on these occasions invariably meant that there would be a cross- 
fire of questions, with consequent disastrous results to those 
whose interests were inimical to that of the city. 

"Mayor Barnert, being given permission to address the 
Aldermen, arose and made this startling announcement: "I 
am going to sell some lamps!" 

From the audience there came half suppressed laughter, 
In which several of the Aldermen, believing they scented a 
joke, also joined. 



59 



"Yes, gentlemen; I am going to sell you some lamps," re- 
affirmed the Mayor. 

''Yesterday," he continued, "I underwent the painful 
ordeal of going under an unassumed name, to-night I am 
Nathan Barnert." The Mayor then told of his investigation 
and his trip and purchase, and then presented his bill together 
with the lamps which he had bought for $1-75 each. There 
was an uproar at the meeting where all sorts of charges were 
made and the matter was finally dropped after an opera bouffe 
attempt to remedy matters." 

A POETICAL RESPONSE. 

Although suffering excruciating pain. Mayor Barnert 
forgot his torments for a time when news reached him of a 
fatal mishap to a Scot who was not blessed with a superabun- 
dance of the world's goods and devoted his salary for the month 
of February, 1 891, to the relief of the unfortunate man. Fol- 
lowing the death of the Scot, who was John D. Downie, the 
following was written by Alexander Bell, "The Dublin Springs 
Poet," who died recently: 

107 Pine Street, City. March 3, 1891. 
"My Dear Mayor Barnert — 

"Honorable Sir: — I hope you will excuse me, a humble 
mechanic of this city, and the organizer of the Painter's Union, 
in taking the liberty in writing you these few lines at a time 
when grief and sickness are in your home, to thank you heartily, 
in my own humble way, for your kindly act to the family of 
of the late John D. Downie, who was a member of our union, 
a dear friend of mine, and a Scotchman, like myself from the 
"land of brown heath and shaggy wood." 

60 



When cries go forth, and salt tears well nigh Wind; 

Surely such one as this doth better bind 

Heart unto Heart with cords of perfect love, 

I own my laggard pen dotlh scarcely move, 

Nor can I somehow speech best worthy find 

That 1, in fitness might in passing tell 

Of him who boasts not, nor doth posture take, 

As one who flaunts his deeds in faces wan; 

But in and out doth move becomingly well. 

Lover of all that's good, this tribute make 

I unto you, true hearted gentleman. 

Alexander Bell. 

EX-MAYOR BARNERT^S VIEWS ON MUNICIPAL REFORM. 

Editor Evening News: 

Allow me to comment in your enterprising paper on the 
salutary legislation for our city, just enacted. It is a matter 
for the sincere congratulation of all good men that our new 
Senator, John HInchliffe, has accomplished to some extent, a 
welcome change in our city laws, and evidence of able, resolute 
statesmanship, that stamps him at once as a Democrat of 
sterling order, a consistent and true man. Thanks to him and 
an enlightened Legislature, this long suifering constituency will 
enjoy a long respite from misrule and Incompetency In city 
management. It Is only now charged In our hall of legisla- 
tion at Trenton that to secure appointment In Paterson meant 
a fee of $200 to $300 apiece to an alderman as the price of an 
appointment. Just as If this were not well known here, when 
It has not time and again been openly alluded to. Indeed, the 
placing of twenty more new men on the force was on the pro- 
gramme. In anticipation of matters not remaining longer under 
the present defective system ; which was desisted from, only on 
the ground that it could not well be done under existing limi- 
tations. ' 

A little while ago you beheld the edifying spectacle of a 
"saintly" paper and another of like Ilk, working hand in hand 

61 



with the clique ruling the city hall, in bringing about treachery 
at Trenton. Then it was that the anxious hopes of an over- 
taxed people, and the earnest unselfish work of a few devoted 
men of known probity of character was rendered nugatory and 
reform was stifled for the time. Hushed was the voice of this 
canting hypocritical paper, the self-constituted "great leader 
of moral ideas," though it will be recalled to the memory of its 
readers that at a time when wholesale official dishonesty was 
unearthed, and laid bare in all its revolting aspects to the pub- 
lic gaze, it was shamed into a reluctant admission of the crying 
need of reform, only after public excitement and indignation 
had culminated to an unprecedented point. After reform was 
stifled at the capital, not a whisper escaped its lips for the 
checking of the evils of our system. Were not the very men 
the very offenders on trial, patted on the back, as it were, by 
this partisan gang, and their faithful subsidized cohorts, the 
Republican organs? Was not the miscarriage of justice 
brought about through the medium of the leeches that are 
drawing the life blood of this city. Were not self-confessed 
notorious wrong-doers, men with the taint of fraud, not only 
allowed to go unpunished, but even made the standard bearers 
of their degenerated party? 

That the Republican party was the dominant one, and had 
the opportunity in their grasp to earn the gratitude and affec- 
tion of our people, by a brave assertion of determination to 
stamp out what was so palpably bad in the administration of 
our city, by helping to root out obvious defects not one of the 
party will dare to deny. Why was it left undone? Because 
their leaders themselves were tainted. They worked with a 
vigor worthy of a better cause, in a direction just contrary to 
reform, fearing to lose their hold on the purse strings of the 
public treasury. Some of our influential, well meaning citi- 
zens were misguided into countenancing these enemies of re- 
form (it is said financiers and silk dyers at that) and were 

62 



made to contribute heavily to their campaign fund. Mortify- 
ing as this is, it results from the blind confidence usual on the 
part of some, which always has been a menace to the liberties 
of the people. Even now the few honest men in our boards 
do not know everything that is going on in the councils and 
intrigues of the rest, and it is a matter of record that occasions 
have arisen when they have been made aware of the commis- 
sion of bribery by some, yet they themselves are disinclined to 
expose them in a direct way. The fact and figures relating 
to our city debt point to a serious, significant tale. Let the 
good work of reform legislation go on until every department 
is reformed, and the Augean stables are cleaned. 

Respectfully, 

Nathan Barnert. 
Paterson, N. J., Feb. 26, 1892. 

MAYOR BARNERT AND THE POOR HOUSE FOOD. 

Many slurs had emanated from the City Hall because 
Mayor Barnert had the temerity to dare to look at the bills for 
the supplies at the Almshouse. The items on the bills as 
printed in the Guardian in 1889, created quite a sensation at 
that time. The first bill printed was for May, 1888, and during 
that month, among the list aggregating $3P00) were found six 
dozen oranges, lemons by the dozen, bananas, maple sugar, 
canned peaches, pine apple and canned tongue. The purchase 
of 200 pounds of bacon and other necessaries was no surprise, 
but there was also found: 

3 gallons of Apple whiskey, at $3.00. . .$ 9.00 
2 gallons of Rye whiskey, at 4.00... 8.00 
2 gallons of Holland Gin, at 5.00... 10.00 



Total whiskey for May $27.00 

That the paupers drank something else beside whiskey was 
shown by the bill for August. During this month there was 

63 



consumed 200 pounds of coffee at 25 cents a pound, and 100 
pounds of Oolong tea. Forty pounds of nutmegs and ten 
pounds of mustard, show that the paupers did not suffer for 
lack of spice. 

The bill for September was next unearthed, where there 
was a charge for one box of lemons. There was also a charge 
of $75.00 for coffee. There is also another bill for whiskey, 
with a total of $48.00. The October bill calls for the usual 
modicum of figs, bananas, oranges and lemons and canned 
tongue, etc., and only four gallons of apple whiskey at $3.00 a 
gallon, and two of Rye at $4.00 a gallon. There was also a 
charge of 200 pounds of coffee and 150 pounds of tea. 

There was the usual charge for 310 pounds of coffee and 
$88.79 for tea during November, with fruits as a side dish. 
Another bill called for $i5-35 ^^^ French candy from a New 
York firm, and a plumbing bill for sixty days work charged at 
$3.00 a day. 

ACROSTIC. 
(Composed after reading of Mayor Barnert's visit to the 
Almshouse). 

Ndblest and gentlest of thy ndble race, 
At the head of "Aldermanic Board," 
Thou shalt endure When others in disgrace 
Have left the riches they unjustly hoard. 
And long in homes and hearts of men, 
Nathan, thy name and deeds shall live. 

Because unto the poor, again and again, 
A goodly portion of thy store thou gavest; 
Ready to assist the needy in distress, 
Never weary of exposing wrong. 
Every inmate of the Almshouse will bless, 
Revere thy name and wisih thy days be long, 
Tho some may hate thee, never mind. 

May God be with you from first to last, 
Attending on the crippled and blind. 
Yes, it was done in days gone past, 
Of sweet mercy thou shalt honor find, 
Recorded in the book and volume of the past. 

A. Blyerelland. 
Paterson, June 27, 1890. 

64 



RETAINS INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 

Mr. Barnert, since he retired from active political life, 
has retained his interest in public affairs. How strong a hold 
he still has In the public mind was illustrated when he intro- 
duced Woodrow Wilson to the public of Paterson, when he 
first ran for Governor of New Jersey. Mr. Barnert was 
chosen as chairman of the great outpouring of citizens at the 
Paterson Opera House. Later when Mr. Wilson was nomi- 
nated for President, Mr. Barnert was again honored with the 
chairmanship of the big mass meeting held in the High 
School. 

Efforts had been made when Mr. Barnert relinquished the 
office of Mayor to induce him to be a candidate for Congress, 
but to the delegation of prominent citizens that called on 
him, Mr. Barnert declined all proffers of further political 
honor. 

One of the most cordial friends of the late Hon. Garret 
A. Hobart, he contributed his hearty support to that distin- 
guished citizen of Paterson for the Vice-Presidency in 1896, 
and to the cause of sound money represented by the McKInley 
and Hobart ticket. He was one of the members of the com- 
mittee of citizens who had in charge the erection of a statue to 
Mr. Hobart. 

On January i, 191 2, Mr. Barnert was named by 
Mayor Andrew F. McBride, a member of the Finance Com- 
mission, the governing body of Paterson. Mr. Barnert's 
selection was a most popular one to the community and came 
unsolicited. Mr. Barnert was grateful for this appointment 
not only that he could still further serve the people, but for the 
fact that he is the father of the present appointive commission 
form of government, and for which he had fought hard during 
his administrations. 



65 



PASSAIC CITY HERALD 
December 5, 1889. 

EDITORIAL. 

Few men have achieved greater success in business life and 
w^on for themselves a more deserving fame than Mayor Bar- 
nert, v^ho is a public spirited, enterprising, conscientious and 
honest man in all the relations of life. We will not weary our 
readers with a biographical and chronological review of Mayor 
Barnert's life. His honorable connection with the Masonic 
fraternity, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and other 
charitable institutions is already well known. 

What is the secret of his success ? This is what we would 
impress upon the young men of today, that they may feel 
encouraged to emulate his example is all that is commendable 
and lofty. First, he started in life with the correct and manly 
idea that "success is a duty," and that it invariably attends 
honesty, perseverance and industry. These three characters, 
"stronger than bands of iron," founded the motive power of his 
life, and will undoubtedly crown with success the efforts of 
every young man who starts in life boldly with a laudable 
ambition to succeed. Honesty is like confidence, which Lord 
Chatham declared to be "a plant of slow growth, indigenous 
to every soil and climate," but it needs cultivation, care, watch- 
fulness. Every young man at the outset of life's journey is 
surrounded by innumerable snares; his footsteps wander over 
slippery paths; and to counteract the evil influences that 
environ him and withstand the temptations that allure him, he 
must be fortified by integrity of heart, purity of morals and a 
will strong enough for him to fight and overcome. 

As municipal chief of the large and growing city over 
which he presides. Mayor Barnert has proved himself a tower 
of strength in exposing the dishonesty and corruption of city 
officials. Wherever he strikes, he "makes the fur fly." He is 

66 



thoroughly fearless and uncompromising — decided in his con- 
victions and firm even to austerity in enforcing obedience to the 
law. A more efficient mayor the city of Paterson never had. 
In matters of public concern, he may sometimes err in judg- 
ment, but no man dares to question his honesty of purpose and 
the purity of his intentions. If at times he is imperious in 
manner and self-willed, it is because he believes in his own 
integrity and is conscious of his own self-respect and honor. 
He is one of the most charitable of men, and at his beautiful 
residence on Broadway, he dispenses generous hospitality. As 
friend, companion and citizen, he is a man to be ever trusted 
and honored. Blessed Is he whose honorable life in business — 
whose honesty, industry and integrity — set to the youth of the 
land an example worthy of imitation. 



67 



CHAPTER VIII. 

"by their deeds ye shall remember them." 

At his home on Broadway and Summer Street, Mr. Bar- 
nert has a large number of interesting gifts from friends and 
admirers. There are two manuscripts, both works of art, 
which are both interesting for the sentiments therein expressed, 
and these were the gifts of the trustees of the Miriam Barnert 
Memorial Temple, and the faculty and scholars of the Hebrew 
Free School. The latter, a magnificent work of art, was pre- 
sented to Mr. Barnert on the occasion of his birthday anniver- 
sary which fell on October 13, 19 13, which was also celebrated 
as Yom Kippur. On one parchment is inscribed the signa- 
ture of the scholars, they showing in this way their appreciation 
for the many kind and generous acts of their benefactor. 

OLDEST LIVING MEMBER PATERSON-ORANGE LODGE OF MASONS. 

Mr. Barnert recently came across a small book containing 
the rules and by-laws of Paterson-O range Lodge of Masons, 
and published in i860. As Mr. Barnert has been a member 
of this fraternity for more than fifty years, it will not be amiss 
to give a short history of the interesting career of this lodge. 

According to Trumbull's History of Paterson, the first 
local masonic lodge of which there is any record, is Paterson- 
Orange lodge, founded very shortly after the town of Pater- 
son was located, and granted a warrant by the Grand Lodge 
in 1796. The organization was maintained until about 1825-6 
and little was done by the members for about ten years when 
Passaic Lodge No. 13, was organized mainly by former mem- 
bers of the pioneer lodge. 



69 



Masonry languished in Paterson from about 1840 until 
1853, when a movement was started for a revival, and in 1884, 
Joppa Lodge No. 29, was organized and began a prosperous 
existence with Isaac Van Wangoner, as W. M. Paterson- 
Orange Lodge No. 43, was formed in 1856, and in 1857, 
Benevolent Lodge No. 45, was organized. Falls City Lodge re- 
ceived a warrant about 1867, and the next year a dispensation 
was granted for the formation of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 88. In 
1870, Humboldt Lodge No. 114, was formed. Beethoven 
Lodge No. 154, was instituted under a dispensation October 
17, 1882, and granted a warrant February 12, 1883. These 
latter two are largely German organizations. 

Former Nathan Barnert and William F. Bertkau are the 
two oldest living members of Paterson-Orange Lodge. 

A PRETTY SENTIMENT. 

I have expended. What I have given, 
I have kept. What I expended, I had, 
Wihat I gave, I have; What I kept, 
I lost. 

Nathan Barnert. 

HIS NATURALIZATION PAPERS. 

In 1862, although there was no necessity for his obtaining 
papers, his father having been naturalized, Mr. Barnert secured 
citizenship papers from the late Thomas D. Hoxey, County 
Clerk, and which he highly values to-day. It is a citizenship 
which has done honor to its possessor, his family and faith, and 
to his country. 

LETTER FROM A SCHOOL TEACHER. 
(After referring to the gift of a book) 
No. 6 School — 376 Van Houten Street. 
Mr. Nathan Barnert. 

Dear Sir: — We often talk of you in No. 6 School, and 
I try to inspire in the pupils to turn and lend a hand as you 
have so nobly done in our city. 

70 




BARNERT HOMESTEAD ON BROADWAY. 



AN APPRECIATION FROM JOHN W. GRIGGS. 

Letter from John W. Griggs, former Attorney General of 
the United States, and former Governor of New Jersey, who 
was for four years City ' Attorney of Paterson, during Mayor 
Barnert's administration : 

Board of Education, May 29, 1884. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Gentlemen: — My friend, Hon. Nathan Barnert, of Pat- 
erson, N. J., informs me that he is likely to have some business 
transactions with you. I take much pleasure in assuring you 
of the high character of Mr. Barnert and of his entire responsi- 
bility for any engagement he may make. He is worthy of any 
courtesy which you are able to show him. 

John W. Griggs 

APPRECIATIONS FROM LATE PRESIDENT WILLIAM MC KINLEY. 

Hon. Nathan Barnert, ^^"'°"' ^^''°' J"''' 7' '90O. 

Paterson, N. J. 
My Dear Mr. Barnert: — 

President McKinley sends his regards for the kindness 
extended to him by you at the recent visit of the President to 

P-'^^-^o"- Respectfully yours, Q.^.g, p Cortelyou. 

EXECUTIVE MANSION. 

Hon. Nathan Barnert, Washington, D. C, Nov. .4, .900. 
Paterson, N. J. 
My Dear Sir:— 

Please accept my cordial thanks for your message of con- 
gratulation which was duly received. 

Assuring you that your kindly comment and good wishes 

are appreciated, believe me, ,7- . , 

Very smcereiy yours, 

William McKinley 
71 



PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON's REPLY. 

Communication from Woodrow Wilson following his 
election as President of the United States: 

November 15, 19 12. 
My Dear Mr. Barnert: 

"Your kindly telegram of congratulation has given me a 
great deal of pleasure. It strengthens me greatly to feel that 
I have the support of men experienced in affairs v^^hose oppor- 
tunities for observation and influence have made them in some 
sense the spokesmen of their neighbors and the community." 

WoodroviT Wilson. 

MR. BARNERT IS FURTHER HONORED. 

When Mayor John Johnson died the reins of the city 
government were taken over by President William N. Berdan 
of the Board of Finance as chief presiding officer, until the 
election of Dr. A. F. McBride, when Mr. Berdan relinquished 
the office to his successor. On this occasion, the Hamilton Club 
tendered a dinner to the incoming and outgoing mayors. It 
is interesting to note from the following letter from General 
Joseph W. Congdon, late Judge of the New Jersey Court of 
Errors and Appeals that Mr. Barnert was the only officially 
invited guest: 

January 7, 1908. 
My Dear Mr. Barnert: 

(After referring to the reason for the gathering) — "You 
will be the only officially invited guest and the members of the 
club will be glad to do you honor as one of the most useful 
and efficient mayors Paterson ever had and as one of its most 
highly esteemed charitable and public-spirited citizens." 



7a 



THE BOY BARNERT. 

The following anonymous communication was published 
in a Paterson newspaper: 

"It was way back in the fifties when a wayward lad by 
the name of Nathan Barnert, came to this city, carrying all his 
worldly goods in a small gripsack, and saddling himself upon 
his cousins, who were doing a prosperous business. Nathan 
was a very clever young man; he enjoyed fun most hugely, and 
it mattered little to him whether it cost a *'slug" or a bit, if he 
could keep abreast of the times, and that was all in those days 
that could be desired. Young Nathan Barnert had a surfeit 
of the good things which this city afforded, and was not of that 
class of men who did not like to have their gold dust minted, 
but gambled it away in its native purity, by the ounce and by 
the pouch, and left for the East in 1855, where society was 
more settled, and where gambling is not being done on the 
ground floor, with bands of music in front of the house, invit- 
ing the knights of rouge et noir to try their luck at the tables 
of sophisticated sirens, who, by day and by night, presided over 
the green-cloth, and had a taking way with them in all the 
ancient, modern and profane languages. I now learn that this 
same Mr. Barnert, like unto Dick Whittington of old, has 
become Mayor of Paterson, N. J., and I congratulate him, and 
those who had the good sense to vote for him, upon the success 
of electing a man who never betrayed a friend, and who always 
walked uprightly before all men. It is not to be supposed that 
Mr. Barnert knows who I am ; but I know him, and that 
answers my purpose." 



73 



New York, Dec. 6, 191 3. 

Nathan Barnert, Esq., 

Paterson, N. J. 

Dear Mr. Barnert: — I note in to-day's "Sun" the good 
news of your munificent purpose of erecting a hospital to the 
memory of your wife. I congratulate your city that it has such 
a splendid man as you for a citizen, and congratulate you that 
you are one of those who make good use of the wealth they 
have acquired. 

Wishing you a long life to enjoy the fruit of your labor, 

I am, 

Very Sincerely Yours, 

Henry Clews. 



September 30, 191 4. 



My Dear Brother: — 



I am instructed by Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, F. and 
A. M., to tender to you our very sincere congratulations on 
this your 76th birthday. I pray you may long be able in health 
and strength to carry on the noble work you have done in the 
past, for the benefit of the poor and needy, and sick and 
afflicted. 

Fraternally yours, 

William Elliott, 

Secretary. 



74 



Paterson, N. J., Oct. i6, 1914. 
Hon. Nathan Barnert: — 
My Dear Sir:— 

I am in receipt of an invitation to attend the laying of the 
cornerstone of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
Hospital on Monday, October 19, inst., for which please accept 
my sincere thanks. 

I fear I shall have to forego the pleasure of being present, 
as I am due to attend a meeting of the Paterson archdeaconry 
at Ridgewood, on the afternoon of that day, vs^hen all the clergy 
of the district are expected to be present. 

With best w^ishes for yourself and the laudable enterprise 
you have undertaken to accomplish in the erection of the 
splendid memorial. 

I am very truly yours, 

S. A. Weikert. 

Rector of St. Mark's Church. 



October 17, 191 4. 
Hon. Nathan Barnert, 

Paterson, N. J. 
Dear Mayor: — 

While I shall be unable to be in attendance at the banquet 
commemorating the corner-stone of the Nathan and Miriam 
Barnert Memorial Hospital, I cannot allow the opportunity to 
pass without extending to you my felecitations on this mem- 
orable occasion. You certainly deserve, and are receiving, the 
commendation of your fellow citizens of Paterson, for your 
notable charities. 

Very truly yours, 

E. T. Bell, 
294 Broadway, Paterson, N. J. 

75 



ST. John's rectory. 

Mr. N, Barnert. P^^^^^°"' N. J., Oct. 17, 1914. 

My Dear Sin- 
Please accept my thanks for your invitation to the corner- 
stone laying of your grand hospital. I don't go to big gather- 
ings any more. You will please excuse me. 

You and your deceased wife have been models of benefac- 
tors of the poor. The hospital will be a crowning act of your 

^'^^'^'^'y- Yours truly, 

W. McNulty. 

tr TVT .u -D . Chicago, 111., Oct. 18, 1914- 

Hon. Nathan Barnert: — ^ ' ' » ^^ *r 

I congratulate you and your city on this joyous day. May 
God spare you to us for many years of health and helpfulness. 
This, your munificent gift to the suffering — a perpetual monu- 
ment to yourself and your saintly wife, will forever inscribe 
your names in the Book of Life. 

Dr. Albert B. Yudelson. 

Hon. Nathan Barnert:- ^^^ ^"^^> ^^^- '^^ '^''^' 

We have learned with pleasure of the laying of the corner- 
stone of the Barnert Hospital. We extend to you the greet- 
ings of our Board of Directors, and wish to add a word of 
encouragement and good cheer, and our hope that your institu- 
tion may from the moment of erection, be a boon and a bless- 
ing to the Jewish community and to the city of Paterson. We 
hope you will be spared for many years to witness the growth 
of your institution and the good which it will accomplish, so 
that you will be encouraged to do other good deeds and work 
in other good causes. 

Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America. 

76 



"paterson's greatest and noblest benefactor." 
My Dear Friend:— October 19, 1914. 

I write to express my thanks to you for the ticket to the 
banquet. Since receiving it, I have been congratulating myself 
upon the anticipation of a real good time, but alas! "Man pro- 
poses and the Almighty disposes." 

I have just sustained an attack of acute indigestion, con- 
sequently I cannot enjoy any kind of pleasure; neither can any 
one who may happen within the sound of my voice. 

The monumental undertaking you are now engaged in 
rounds out a life of gloriously cheerful giving and unquestion- 
ably bestows upon you the exalted title of Paterson's Greatest 
and Noblest Benefactor. 

By honoring Miriam Barnert, you are honoring yourself, 
and I can conceive of no surer confirmation of the belief in a 
life hereafter than is evidenced by the love and affection you 
have shown to the memory of the late partner of your joys and 
your sorrows. 

With best wishes, I am yours sincerely, 

William Berdan. 

Rectory of Our Lady of Lourdes, 
Dear Mayor Barnert:— Paterson, New Jersey. 

I deeply regret that I was unable to be present at the re- 
viewing stand with you yesterday. From the distance, being 
late in arriving, I saw you and rejoiced in your deserved 
happiness. May God bless you with many years to see much 
fruit for the generous deed of philanthropy and charity you 
have sown. 

It was a pleasure to see the general appreciation of the 
public as evidenced at the corner-stone laying of your splendid 

^°'P^^^^- Faithfully yours, 

October 20th. Anthony H. Stein. 

77 



PASSAIC COUNTY CLERK^S OFFICE. 

Paterson, N. J., Oct. 20, 191 4. 
Hon. Nathan Barnert. 
Dear Mr. Barnert: — 

At the last moment I was detained and unable to attend 
the exercises of yesterday. I take this opportunity to offer my 
apology, and to join with many citizens in commending your 
most worthy act. 

May you live long to realize the great benefit you con- 
ferred on afflicted humans. 

Very truly yours, 

John J. Slater, 
County Clerk. 

FROM FORMER COUNTY JUDGE^ FRANCIS SCOTT. 

Paterson, N. J., Oct. 20, IQH- 
Hon. Nathan Barnert, 

258 Broadway, City. 
My Dear Mayor: — 

The city of Paterson yesterday paid a very just and noble 
tribute to one who has been officially our first citizen, and ever 
since has been really one of our first citizens. I know of no 
man who has contributed more largely to the public benefit. 
When a great institution is constructed and donated for the 
general relief by a philanthropic citizen, it shows generosity and 
unselfishness. When it is done also as a memorial for a lost 
and loved one, it shows tenderness and devotion, the highest 
characteristics of a man. Nothing too good can be said about 
you. I regret that I was prevented by a previous engagement 
from attending the banquet. I should have been pleased and 
happy to have thrown a lance for Paterson's First Citizen. 

Yours very truly, 

Francis Scott. 

78 



Paterson, N. J., Oct. 21, 19 14. 
Hon. Nathan Barnert, 

Paterson, N. J. 
My Dear Mayor: — 

It certainly must be a source of much pleasure for you to 
contemplate the great outpouring of the people of this city in 
your honor on Monday, at the laying of the corner-stone of the 
hospital you are erecting, which surely was a great testimonial, 
and while I was privileged to attend the ceremonies in the 
afternoon, my being prevented from being present at the ban- 
quet, was, I feel, a distinct loss of mine. This honor you have 
received and which is so justly merited, should be one of great 
pride for you to carry with you throughout the remainder of 
your life. 

I extend to you my sincere congratulations. 
Very sincerely yours, 

Robert J. Nelden, 
President, Paterson Savings Institution. 

ASKED MR. Roosevelt's aid. 

To the Editor of the New York Herald. 

Our worthy and good President in reply to a request from 
representative citizens to intervene in behalf of the suffering 
Hebrews in Russia, deplored his inability to do so. Count 
Witte in his telegram to Mr. Jacob SchifE, stated that he could 
do nothing, owing to the excitable condition of the country. 

I see that Emperor William has offered his ships to aid 
the Russian Government in restoring order. Why could not 
President Roosevelt have shown similar zeal and thus power- 
fully helped in preventing further outrages? 

It might almost seem that our President was too quick in 
his efforts to promote peace before the little but courageous Jap 
had utterly exterminated the Russian bear. 

79 



If Mr. Roosevelt did not think that he could officially in- 
tervene when 25,000 men, women and children had been wan- 
tonly slaughtered, he might at least, as an individual, have 
written a personal letter to the Czar, for, he has saved the 
Czar's honor in the Japanese war. He can still write that let- 
ter, if he only will, and thus save thousands of lives. 

Nathan Barnert. 

Paterson, N. J., Nov. 13, 1905. 

HIS HOME LIFE. 

Mr. Barnert is a marvel of regularity in his business and 
home duties. He retires early and also arises at an early hour. 
He still delights to occupy himself about the Barnert Mill, and 
he amuses himself in spare moments watching the mammoth 
Corliss engine which furnishes the motive power for all the 
machinery in the building. He is fond of horses and can be 
seen daily in his carriage, with his almost inseparable companion 
"Pat" Tighe, his coachman. Years ago, Mr. Barnert owned 
three Hambletonians, with no mean degrees. His stable has 
every modern accommodation and adjoins his residence. 

The residence on Broadway has been occupied by Mr. 
Barnert for nearly forty years. There were many governors in 
the State and other dignitaries entertained during the life of 
Miriam Barnert. 

Mr. Barnert holds steadfast to the religion of his fathers. 
On Yom Kippur he can be found in earnest prayer within the 
walls of the House of God. On Tisha B'ab commemoratinj.'; 
the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred temple by the 
Roman general Titus, Mr. Barnert can be found in an all- 
day fast, prayer and meditation, beside the body of his beloved 
wife, which lies in an imposing tomb at Mount Nebo. 

Nathan Barnert is a member of many fraternal organiza- 
tions, including the Independent Order of B'Nai Brith, Ancient 

80 



Order Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and numerous charitable and 
public institutions. He has been a member of the Malbish 
Arumiii for fifty years. In addition to his donations to Jewish 
charities and religious and educational institutions, he con- 
tributed liberally to the building funds of the Young Men's 
Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation and Holland and German schools. Recently Barnert 
Place, where the Barnert Place school is located, was named 
in his honor. 

EDITORIAL TRIBUTES. 

PATERSON EVENING NEWS. 

Paterson, N. J., October 17, 1914. 

''and the greatest of these is charity.'" 
In the laying of the cornerstone of the new Nathan and 
Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, on Monday afternoon, 
those who are fortunate enough to attend will witness the 
realization of the ambition of an unselfish life. 

Nathan Barnert, humanitarian and philanthropist, has 
for years in his innermost heart desired to render some real 
and lasting service that would be of benefit to mankind, and 
in the completion of the magnificent hospital structure made 
possible through his broad charity, this dream of service will 
become a reality. 

Fifty-six years ago there came to Paterson, a young man, 
who was blessed with but little of this world's goods, but 
whose soul was afire with ambition to achieve and to succeed. 
He started in life's work in a humble way, doing the things 
that came to him to be done, uncomplainingly, and steadily 
striving, with unfailing energy and industry to improve his 
condition. It was not surprising that to this young man as the 
years mellowed his experience, success came, and that now as 
the hand of time has streaked his hair with grey and he has 

81 



passed the mark of three-score and ten, he is able to look out 
among his fellow men and to have the joy in his heart of know- 
ing that they have been better for his stay among them. 
Nathan Barnert has served the public well, as Alderman, as 
Mayor, and as Finance Commissioner, and in every public 
office, his salary has always been given to charity. His indeed 
has been honest, unselfish public service. 

Nathan Barnert, in the gift of the Barnert Memorial 
Temple, the Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School, 
and the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, has 
created monuments of steel and stone that will last for cen- 
turies, but he has builded better than he knew, for in human 
hearts beating, in undying gratitude, there will for all time live 
the grateful memory of this man of men, this humanitarian, 
who took from the fruits of his years of industry the necessary 
means to create these wonderful structures for human help. 
The Synagogue, for religion; the Free School, for education, 
and the Hospital for the aid to the weary, the foot sore and the 
wounded. He has indeed bound up the wounds of his fellow 
men. He has made it possible for them to educate their 
children and to make their appeals to the God of Israel and 
on that final day when men stand shoulder to shoulder before 
that infinite power on high, to face their final judgment, there 
will be thousands who, if they are given voice to do so, will cry 
out in their gratitude: *'Oh, God of Israel. There is one 
among us who is deserving of your greatest blessings, for he by 
his life's work has made our lives brighter and better. He has 
eased our pains and he has inspired us with the highest of 
ideals. He has made charity his religion and he has given new 
hope to thousands of us. For Nathan Barnert, Oh Lord, may 
we ask your blessing, for he is deserving of your love and con- 
sideration." 

Monday will be a proud day for Paterson and for its 

82 



Jewish residents, and Jew and Gentile alike will realize that 
any community is indeed blessed for having had in its midst a 
man of the broadness of mind, the charity and the lovable 
qualities of Nathan Barnert. 



PATERSON GUARDIAN. 

Paterson, N. J., July i8, 1914. 

The Broadway hospital will be the largest gift that Mr. 
Barnert has announced. He is known as one of the most 
generous citizens of Paterson, and has been progressive and 
thoughtful in doing good that reaches people who need the 
friend at the right time. When a city official, serving as alder- 
man, as mayor, as finance commissioner, the salary he received 
was no attraction for him, other than to add it to the treasuries 
of local charitable institutions for the relief of the sick, the dis- 
tressed and the aged. 

He has spent many years of his life in planning for others, 
having as monuments to his generosity in this city such build- 
ings as the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, where the peo- 
ple of his race may worship God and be happy; he also gave 
the Hebrew Free School at the corner of Broadway and the 
Erie railway that the youth in Hebrew families may be prop- 
erly instructed in the religion of Israel, and he has provided a 
place for the sick to be cared for properly. His latest act 
means that his thoughts for the remainder of his life will be 
occupied in planning for the comfort of people who are stricken 
with all kinds of diseases, and will go further than that, for it 
means cures for cases that the poor would have no means to 
have treated with skilled physicians. In the evening of his life 
he will surely realize the truth of "Blessed is he who considereth 
the poor." 

83 



^ THE PATERSON GUARDIAN. 

Paterson, N. J., October 19, 1914. 

THE BARNERT HOSPITAL. 

The laying of the cornerstone of the Nathan and Miriam 
Barnert Memorial Hospital this afternoon, was quite properly 
made the occasion of a public demonstration of appreciation. 
It marks a notable stage in the erection of an institution that is 
to be at once a fine object lesson in practical philanthropy and 
an architectural ornament to the city. 

The striking feature about the project is that it is to be 
the achievement of one man. The entire cost of the building 
and its equipment is to be borne by ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert. 
Not a dollar is asked or desired of the public. It is a volun- 
tary gift to the community, inspired by its donor, as vi^as Abou 
Ben Adhem, by love of his fellow man. For this reason it will 
be doubly cherished by the city of which he has so long been an 
honored resident. 

All Paterson uncovers to-day to Nathan Barnert for his 
princely munificence. Few cities breed so high a type of citi- 
zenship. 



THE PATERSON PRESS. 
Paterson, N. J., October 20, 1914. 

THE BARNERT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. 

Paterson, is indeed, fortunate in having among its citizens 
a philanthropist of the quality of Nathan Barnert. The im- 
pressive ceremonies attending the laying of the cornerstone 
yesterday afternoon of the magnificent hospital to be erected 
for the use of our city without respect of creed, class or color, 
signalized the beginning — or rather the development into its 

84 



full flower — of a beneficent work which will through all the 
coming years stand as a monument to Mr. Barnert and the 
great-hearted wife to whose fragrant memory this hospital was 
yesterday dedicated. 

This gift of ex-Mayor Barnert to our city is thus not only 
magnificent in its proportions, but pathetic in its interest. The 
hospital will be a most notable addition to the equipment of 
benevolent institutions to which our city can point with just 
pride. The good it will do in the generations yet to come 
cannot be estimated. For it the thanks of our entire com- 
munity to its generous founder are dtie and will be un- 
stintedly given. 



THE MORNING CALL. 

Paterson, N. J., July 20, 1914. 

A significant circumstance in the history of this city will 
occur to-day in the breaking of ground for the new Barnert 
Memorial Hospital on upper Broadway. The plans for the 
home call for an extensive and commodious-looking building, 
of good architectural design, standing on a plot of ground 
which will allow ample room for air and light. It will be an 
imposing structure occupying one entire block and will cost in 
the neighborhood of $250,000. When completed it will be a 
splendid institution that will have a capacity of seventy-five 
patients. The munificence of Nathan Barnert to supply the 
ground and the money for this handsome and attractive institu- 
tion is only another evidence of the good in this distinguished 
citizen, who it would seem has already given his full quota of 
institutions for the benefit of mankind. His splendid example 
should engender other wealthy citizens who have civic pride 
and broad charity, to emulate. 

85 



With the construction of this building, Broadway will con- 
tain three institutions as monuments to Mr. Barnert and his 
deceased wife. The Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, at 
Broadway and Straight Street, was the first to mark his gener- 
osity and perpetuate his name. Then followed the Miriam 
Barnert Free School, further down Broadway, to keep in living 
memory the name and good deeds of his wife. She had jour- 
neyed long and far through life with him, from the time he 
was a poor man, until he laid the foundation of a great fortune. 
None knew, as he, how faithful, how loving, and how encour- 
aging she shared with him the vicissitudes of life ; and none but 
those who have, like him, passed through the valley of that 
great sorrow, can appreciate the extremity of grief and abyss 
of loneliness which were his. It was to her memory that he 
erected the Free School where children of Hebrew faith are 
taught their mother tongue and instructed in religious worship. 
Now comes a beautiful hospital to perpetuate the name of Mrs. 
Barnert; an institution that will throw open its doors to all 
suffering humanity and prove an endless blessing to mankind. 

What greater monument than this? 



THE MORNING CALL. 

Paterson, N. J., July 2.2, 1914. 

No one can meet Nathan Barnert without becoming con- 
vinced of his devotion to the cause of humanity. In the ser- 
vice of this cause he is untiring. It absorbs his attention, if 
not completely, at least a greater portion of it. With the 
apostle he can say, "This one thing I do." Men and women 
with this sort of flaming zeal are the men and women who 
achieve the reforms of the world. If Mr. Barnert had been 
content to lead a quiet life of routine work, he might have en- 



86 



joyed more ease. But he would have missed the larger hap- 
piness of service — and there would have been no Barnert 
Memorial Temple, Miriam Barnert Hebrew Free School or 
Barnert Memorial Hospital, as his noble and enduring 
monuments. 

That new Barnert Hospital will show a fine example of 
private charity applied to public purposes. 

MASONIC REGISTER. 

Jersey City, N. J., November i, 1914. 

NATHAN BARNERT. 

One of the greatest events in the history of the Masonic 
Order of the State of New Jersey, occurred Monday after- 
noon, October I9th, at Paterson, which was the laying of the 
cornerstone by the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Order of the 
State, of the new $250,000 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Hos- 
pital in that city, which was made possible by the grand 
philanthropy of Brother Nathan Barnert. Brother Barnert 
has attained distinction in all walks of life and is beloved by 
all who know him, as it was through the efforts of himself and 
his beloved wife, Miriam Barnert, now deceased, that Paterson 
has the Miriam Barnert Memorial School and the Barnert 
Memorial Temple, which were presented to the city by them at 
other times. Brother Barnert has attained all the degrees of 
Masonry and has lived up to its teachings in every respect; he 
is a modest man and believes in "deeds and not words," as will 
be attested by his speech on that memorable day, which will be 
found on another page of this issue. 

The following acrostic of Biblical names cleverly arranged 
by Jane Jacobson, niece of Nathan Barnert, is a most inter- 
esting contribution to the brilliant works of that author and 
will be read with much enjoyment by her many friends: 

87 



TO NATHAN BARNERT, 
On his 76th birthday, September 30, 19 14. 



AN ACROSTIC OF BIBLICAL NAMES. 

N-oah Because of his righteousness he was saved from 

the mighty flood. 

A-bel Whose offering was accepted by God. 

T-erah The father of Abraham, from the land of Ur of 

the Chaldees. 

H-ezekiah Who in answer to his prayers when death was nigh 
God granted to him a promise of fifteen years 
longer to live. 

A-aron The first high priest of Israel. 

N-athan A distinguished prophet of Judea, who by his wis- 
dom conveyed to David through a most beautiful 
parable, King David was made to condemn himself. 

B-oaz A descendant of Judah, a man of the highest char- 

acter and integrity, who married Ruth, the 
Moabitey, from whence came the Royal House of 
David. 

A-braham Who by his obedience to God's will, through him 
the seed of all Israel was blessed. 

R-euben Jacob's eldest son. 

N-ehemiah A distinguished Jew born in captivity, becoming 
cup bearer to King Artaxerces, by his wondrous 
influence with the King, he was commissioned to 
visit Jerusalem and repair its ruins He was 
made Governor forthwith. 

E-zra A priest and scribe who with Nehemlah was in- 

strumental in restoring once again the worship 
of Israel, and the Sacred Books were compiled 
and collected under their direction. 

R-Iches And Honor are with me; yea durable riches and 

righteousness. Proverbs, Chapt. 8 V. 18. 

T-he TIshbite Elijah, favored by God with miraculous 

power, transported to heaven in the presence of 
Elisha and fifty other persons. 

Jane Jacobson. 

88 



BOOK II. 



NATHAN BARNERT MEMORIAL TEMPLE, 

CONGREGATION b'nAI JESHURUN. 

The Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, perhaps more gener- 
ally known as the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, has an 
unusually interesting history. It is the oldest Jewish congre- 
gation in Passaic County, early records showing that it was in 
existence in the early forties. 

A copy of a deed of land, to the congregation, for ceme- 
tery purposes In the possession of Counsellor David Cohn, was 
recently brought to the attention of the writer. It was 
executed on December 23, i847- Joseph W. Ashman, one of 
the pioneers of the faith, at that time had deeded land to the 
trustees of the congregation situated In Acquackanonk Town- 
ship, in a place called Centreville, now Athenia. The deed 
was drawn In what was known then as the "Town" of Pater- 
son. 

The cemetery was abandoned on November i, 1888, 
when the Congregation purchased from Cornelius R. Benson, 
a tract of over twenty acres of lanH In Totowa, for the con- 
sideration of $8,000. This resting place is now known as 
Mount Nebo Cemetery. 

Although the early records unfortunately have not been 
preserved and have either been lost or destroyed in the big fires 
and floods which have visited Paterson, it is known that the 
congregation at least as late as 1858, worshiped in an old 
structure on the southerly side of West Street, three doors from 
Water Street. A few years later, the congregation bought a 
new home on Mulberry Street, adjoining the old Dagger Bob- 
bin Mill, where the handful of the faithful of the Chosen Race 
were wont to gather on the Sabbath and on Holy Days. 

91 



At that time, there were hardly more than a score of Jews 
in Paterson, and there were frequently times, according to 
Nathan Barnert's recollection when it was necessary to make 
the trip to Passaic, a no easy journey in those days, to gather 
sufficient to the faith to make a "minyan." 

There was quite an influx of Jews shortly afterward, and 
as their numbers increased there was a demand for better ac- 
commodation. 

The Congregation purchased a one-story frame structure 
on Van Houten Street, between Washington and Church 
Streets. This property had at one time served purposes as a 
church and also as a private school for girls which had been con- 
ducted by the mother of Vice-Chancellor Eugene Stevenson. 

The sexton of the congregation had his living quarters in 
the basement of the building. The main floor was used for 
the purposes of worship, which was fitted plainly with wooden 
seats. There was also a vestry and a room for the religious 
school. The form of worship was strictly orthodox, there 
being no organ. 

It was in this building that the first Jewish religious 
school had its inception in Paterson. The late Myer S. Hood, 
father of Louis Hood, former Prosecutor of Essex County, in 
the early days of the congregation on Van Houten Street, was 
then engaged by the members of the *'Chevra" to give private 
religious instruction to their children. Mr. Hood came from 
Newark and daily made the trips to Paterson. 

In 1883, the religious school was formed with Mr. Hood 
as Rabbi, and he taught until 1892. There are a number of 
his scholars living to-day who are successful and firm believers 
in the Faith of Israel, and who revere the memory of that 
pleasant faced and noble instructor. Mr. Hood had the happy 
faculty of inspiring his charges to be up and doing noble deeds 
and it was with sincere regret that the congregation and the 
scholars parted with this divine, who died at the ripe age of 80 
years. 

92 



THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. 

How thorough and extensive was the course of instruction 
in this school, can be gleaned from the following program given 
by the pupils at the Chanukah Festival, on Sunday afternoon, 
December 6, 1885: — 

PART I. 

Prelude — Miss Janle Phillips. 

Hear O Israel— Class, "Hymn." 

Psalm xxvii. — Emanuel Harris. 

Whom Shall We Thank?— 

M. Bernstein, F. Cohn, B. Schwartz. 
Don't Strike a Man. — 

Charles Levison, Charles Cohen. 
Resolution — Bertha Harris. 
Songs of the Nation — Etta Newman. 
Cheer Up — Bertha Cohn. 
Self-Support — Fannie Barnert. 
Charity — Hattie and Mamie Levine. 
Remember Me — Myer Stenchever. 
Judaism in Metaphor — George Feder, II. 
Sabbath — Eveline Barnert. 
Carving a Name — Minnie Clyne. 
Help Thy Brother — Rachel Barnert. 
Life — L. Pinner. 

Nasty Words — Rosie Levy, Rachel Cohn. 
Be Firm — Leo Feder. 
There's a God — Henry Lowenthal. 

PART II. 

Hymn — "Shadals Praise." 

Hallel — Miriam Cohen, Fannie Bernstein, Bertha Cohn, 

Julia Barnert, Bertha Clyne. 

93 



Psalm Cxlv. — Rachel Klenert, Joseph Harris. 

Mincha — A. Benjamin, M. Cohn, B. Benjamin, D. Cohn, 

Emanuel Harris, M. Feder. 
Chanukah Hymn — Class. 
Chanukah — Fannie Simon. 
Zum Chanukahfest — Julia Barnert. 

Israel — ^Joseph Harris. German. 

Fahne, Schwert, Losing — Rachel Klenert. 
Das Menshenherz — Fannie Simon. 
The Tongue — Albert Benjamin. 
What We Should Have— Morris Cohn. 
A Hebrew Parable — Bernhard Benjamin. 
Israel — Isadore Klenert, David Cohn. 

PART III. 

Song — "Our Four Friends." 

A Period of Jewish History — 

L. Brown, S. Levison, W. Levy, M. Feder, I. Klenert, 
G. Feder, D. Cohn, Emanuel and Joseph Harris. 

Hannah — Bertha Clyne. 

The Bible — ^Joseph Harris. 

I Love and Have Cause — Rachel Klenert. 

Truth — George Feder, I. 

The Mystic Tie— Melville Feder. 

Past, Present and Future — Julia Barnert. 

Olenu — George Feder, I. 

Hymn— Class. "Praise Ye." 

NEW TEMPLE OF WORSHIP. 

Early in the Spring of 1889, the congregation of the 
B'Nai Jeshurun and the Jewish community at large in Pater- 
son were overjoyed with the announcement that Mr. Barnert 
had decided to build a new Temple of Worship. It was at a 



94 



time when the tide of Jewish immigration to this country was 
at its height with Paterson receiving quite a large share of this 
influx of most desirable future citizens. The majority of the 
newcomers came from Germany and Russia, men and women, 
they were of firm religious convictions, seeking a haven where 
they could have more freedom in their material and spiritual 
pursuits. 

On May i6, 1889, Nathan and Miriam Barnert deeded 
the plot of land at the southeast corner of Broadway and 
Straight Street, and running westerly along Van Houten 
Street, to the trustees of the congregation. The purposes of 
the transfer were set forth in the following language: 

"The said land hereby conveyed is to be used by the said 
party of the second part, and their successors as and for a site 
for a synagogue to be used and occupied for the worship of 
God according to the manner of the Israelitish people, and for 
a parsonage for the use of the said party of the second part in 
connection with the said Synagogue and for no other purpose. 
And this conveyance is made and the said party of the second 
part are to have and hold the said land upon the following con- 
ditions, namely: A Synagogue for the purpose aforesaid to be 
designated 'The Nathan Barnert Synagogue' shall be erected 
thereon within three years from the date thereof. 

Regular services chiefly in the Hebrew language shall be 
held in the said Synagogue, from and after the time the same 
shall be erected as the aforesaid, every Friday evening and 
Saturday morning, and on all Jewish Festivals, and all other 
Holy days at each which said services at least ten men profess- 
ing Judaism shall be in attendance. At each and every of 
said services, all men in attendance shall have and keep their 
heads covered. No mortgage or other lien shall be put on the 
said land or any part thereof or on the said synagogue or par- 
sonage. 

95 



After the decease of the said Nathan Barnert, and also 
after the decease of the said Mary Barnert, a memorial service 
"Kaddish" shall be held in the said Synagogue on each and 
every anniversary of his and her decease. 

In case the said land shall at any time after the erection 
of the said Synagogue cease to be used for the purpose 
aforesaid or be used for any other purpose, and in case any or 
either of said conditions are broken or shall be violated in any 
case, the estate hereby granted and conveyed shall cease and be 
void, and the said land and premises shall revert to the said 
Nathan Barnert and his heirs." 

On October 24, 1892, the deed was amended as follows: 

First — The Synagogue to be erected on said land shall be 
designated ''The Nathan Barnert Memorial Congregation 
B'Nai Jeshurun." 

Second — The time limit for the erection of the Synagogue 
was extended to four years from date of deed. 

Third — The part of said deed that reads as follows: 
"Regular services chiefly in the Hebrew languages, shall be 
held in the said Synagogue, is hereby changed so as to read as 
follows: 'Regular services in the Hebrew and English lan- 
guages shall be held in the said Synagogue.' " 

Fourth — The provision of said deed that reads as follows : 
"And at each and every of said services, all men in attend- 
ance shall have and keep their heads covered," need not be 
observed. 

A Fifth Amendment provides that after the expiration of 
twenty-five years from the date of this deed, it shall become 
necessary for the good and welfare of the congregation that the 
location be changed, then the said party of the second part may 
sell and convey the said land and premises, and the buildings 
and other improvements thereon, and purchase other land for a 
new Synagogue. It is further provided, however, that the new 

96 



Synagogue would have to be erected within eighteen months 
after the sale of the old House of Worship. 

Considered in their collective aspect, Mr. Barnert's gifts 
to the congregation B'Nai Jeshurun cannot otherwise be de- 
scribed than as truly munificent. As already noted, he first 
donated this valuable parcel of land in one of the most con- 
spicuous and select sections in the city and then purchased an 
adjacent strip and presented it to the congregation with a con- 
siderable sum of money to start the building fund. Later he 
assumed the whole expense of construction and, in addition, 
paid off the first debt of the congregation. 

GROUND BROKEN FOR NATHAN BARNERT MEMORIAL TEMPLE. 

Monday morning, October i8, 1892, was an eventful 
day in religious circles in Paterson, when ground was broken 
for the new house of worship for the congregation B'Nai 
Jeshurun. Work was begun on the ground breaking at 7.30 
o'clock, but prior to this a short but impressive service was held, 
before a gathering of prominent Jews and Gentiles. Among 
those present were Nathan Barnert and Mrs. Barnert. 

Rabbi Eisenberg, of the congregation presided at the ser- 
vices. Mr. Eisenberg gave a brief but appropriate address and 
closed with a simple prayer. The workmen then began turn- 
ing up the earth on the site of which was to be reared Pater- 
son's first and most beautiful Jewish Temple. 

ADDRESS OF EX-MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT 

AT THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES OF THE NATHAN BARNERT 

MEMORIAL TEMPLE, I 893. 

Honored Guests — Ladies and Gentlemen: — We have 
completed the glorious work of building the House of the 
Lord. Our task is so far done, and we have met to-day to 
celebrate the event by public manifestations of rejoicings. You 

97 



who have so earnestly labored to help achieve this long de- 
ferred end are worthy of unstinted praise. The need of a new 
Temple has long been felt, and now that it is at our disposal, 
let us resolve to inaugurate a new era by our unfeigned piety; 
by a strict adherence to the principles of Judaism; by paying 
proper homage to the God of Israel in this House of Worship. 

The friends who have so nobly contributed of their means 
toward the building fund are deserving of especial mention at 
this time, and a generous public has, in no small degree em- 
phasized its sympathy in the movement thus happily brought to 
completion. But you, my friends, have much to do yet. The 
building fund is not adequate. We have incurred an unforseen 
debt, and until that debt is paid oif, you must all work. I 
have great faith in your zeal and the continued generosity of 
the public. 

Every God-fearing man, woman and child of the Hebrew 
faith in this conmiunity should help along this congregation by 
joining it. And now, dear friends, if we honestly strive to 
do this, God indeed will dwell in this House. Solomon of old 
has said: *'But will God indeed dwell on the earth! Behold 
the heavens cannot contain him ; how much less this house that 
I have built for him." Yet we are assured that a contrite 
heart is God's accepted sacrifice. In conclusion I desire to ex- 
press my thankful appreciation for your courtesy." 

The present officers and trustees of the Nathan Barnert 
Memorial Temple, 1914, follow: Rabbi Marius Rasinsky, 
President; Lewis Levi, Vice-President; Bernard Katz, Treas- 
urer; Isaac Basch, Secretary; Moses Weingartner; Trustees — 
Samuel Boehm, Sigmund M. Cohn, Gershon Gootenberg, 
Samuel S. Holzman, Herman Haimowicz, Sigmund Kantor, 
Isadore H. Levine and Abraham L. Simon. 

The Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, is of pure 
Moorish style of architecture, with light colored brick and 
brown stone trimmings. The Temple has a frontage on 

98 



Broadway of 52 feet, and a depth on Straight Street of 104 feet. 
At the Northwest corner of Broadway a tower of graceful 
proportions rises 93 feet in the air, and is surmounted by a 
dome or cupola supported on galvanized iron columns. On 
the Northeast corner is another tower, 62 feet high and of the 
same graceful proportions as the other. 

Underneath the whole structure is a cellar eight feet deep, 
where the religious school of the congregation holds sessions. 
There is also a meeting room for the Hebrew Ladies' Benev- 
olent Society and a chapel, where a minyan can always be 
found in the morning and Mincha and Mairiv services. This 
minyan in charge of the sexton, Mr. Leesman, has been pro- 
vided for by Mr. Barnert, since the death of his wife, and is to 
be a permanent institution. Strangers are particularly wel- 
come to these services, provision having been made for the re- 
ception of mourners, the newly bereaved or those who desire to 
offer prayer on the anniversary of the death of a beloved one. 
There is also a dining room, kitchen and pantry for festivals 
and sociables, and also reception rooms. The walls of the 
main auditorium are 25 feet high. The roof is supported by 
graceful Moorish arches, this style of architecture being main- 
tained throughout the interior as well as the exterior. The 
auditorium is reached from a spacious lobby through arches, 
the lobby being ten and a half feet wide. There are galleries 
in the rear and sides with another gallery in the front reserved 
for the organ and choir. The temple is heated by steam. 



PRESIDENT MC KINLEY AT BARNERT TEMPLE. 
From the Call, Saturday, April 21, 1900. 
The usual Saturday evening services at the Barnert Tem- 
ple last night were very unusual, in the fact that a President of 
the Nation, the Governor of the State, and other distinguished 
Gentiles took part. 



99 



Former Mayor Nathan Barnert, Nathan Fleischer and 
Leopold Meyer went to Carroll Hall, to conduct the Presiden- 
tial party to the Temple and the delay caused the crowd out- 
side to grow considerably larger. 

The three front pews were reserved for the Presidential 
party and the visitors were generously given good seats. Among 
the members of the congregation observed were: Mr. and 
Mrs. Bernard Katz, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Katz, Mr. and 
Mrs. Henry Nathan and Miss Florence Nathan, Mr. and 
Mrs. Marks Steinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Schoolher, Mrs. Nathan 
Barnert, Miss Fleischer, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Friedman, Mr. 
and Mrs. David Bohm, Mrs. J. C. Price, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac 
Basch, Mrs. A. L. Schwartz, Miss Bessie Spear, Miss Jennie 
S. Bilder, Miss Frances Bilder, David H. Bilder, Mr. and 
Mrs. Marcus Cohn, Miss Rebecca Cohn, Miss Rachel Cohn, 
Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Lefkowitz, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Har- 
ris and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Rogowsky, Mrs. Jacob 
L. Simon, Mrs. Tina Diamond, Miss Estelle Diamond, Mrs. 
Lowenthal and Miss Lowenthal. 

The finely appointed Synagogue was brilliantly illumin- 
ated and a few palms and potted plants were placed along the 
front of the platform. A large flag hung outside in front of 
the church, but otherwise no preparation of an extra kind had 
been made. 

When the Presidential party arrived they were slightly 
cheered by the crowd outside, and the congregation inside arose 
and stood until the party reached their seats. 

President McKinley entered arm-in-arm with former 
Mayor Nathan Barnert. Governor Voorhees and Mayor 
Hinchliffe followed. Then came Nathan Fleischer, Leopold 
Meyer, Colonel William Barbour, A. R. Turner, Jr., Edward 
T. Bell, George B. Cortelyou, A. L. Leonard and General 
Joseph W. Congdon. They were all in evening dress. 



lOO 



Mr. Barnert, who is president of the Synagogue took his 
seat in the platform enclosure with Vice-President Jacob Levi, 
and the Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs immediately started the service. 
The Hymns were rendered by a quartette, and one of the songs 
which was appropriate was "Lead Kindly Light." 

President McKinley got a prayer book and followed the 
service attentively. The service was entirely in English. Dr. 
Isaac's sermon on "Springtime" was delivered in a clear cut 
style, free from any effort and without any sign or references. 
He took the text from Solomon's song of songs, "Lo, the Winter 
gone, the rain has ceased, the flowers appear on the earth and 
the voice of the song-bird is heard in the land." He treated 
his subject under three heads — the Springtime of nature — 
the Springtime of creeds and the Springtime of humanity." 

''a very graceful act.'^ 

In commenting on President McKinley's visit to the Bar- 
nert Memorial Temple, the late Editor Orrin Vanderhoven 
wrote : 

"It was a very graceful act on the part of the President to 
attend the Easter service in the Temple. It went a long way 
toward breaking the prejudice against the race." 

In 1902 when the big fire laid waste to a considerable por- 
tion of Paterson, and even before the embers of the Second 
Presbyterian Church had cooled, Nathan Barnert, in behalf of 
the congregation of the Barnert Temple, offered this House of 
Worship to the Gentiles. The offer was accepted and for 
three years, the public of Paterson and in fact the whole world, 
marvelled at what was considered not many years before an 
impossibility, a sacrilege and a perversion of all the principles 
of Judaism, to allow a Gentile congregation to worship in a 
Jewish synagogue. 

Unseemly unbridgeable chasms of dogmatisms were swept 
aside. It was a magnificent tribute to the broadmindedness of 



lOI 



men and a crushing blow to religious intolerance. The con- 
gregation of the Temple even went further. It refused abso- 
lutely to accept a cent for rent, light, heat or other expense, 
offering the Temple free to their Christian friends. It was a 
noble and inspiring deed, and has established throughout the 
land a precedent for fairness between man and man, aside from 
religious beliefs and differences. The offering of the Temple 
was a personal tribute to two men — Nathan Barnert and the 
late Rev. Dr. Charles D. Shaw. As Mr. Barnert stands for 
broad-minded consideration and friendship to all creeds and 
classes, so stood Dominie Shaw. Nathan Barnert, is a staunch 
Israelite and Dr. Shaw was a Christian, who stood forth in the 
bright light in the firmament of religious tolerance and the love 
that God has commanded shall exist between man and man. 

"k prince in ISRAEL.^' 

Letter sent by Rev. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., late pastor 
of the Second Presbyterian Church on the occasion of good ser- 
vices of Mr. Barnert in turning over the temple for worship of 
Gentiles following the big fire of 1902: 

March 10, 1905. 

Dear Mr. Barnert: — I send the accompanying official let- 
ter to you as President of the Board of Trustees, but I wish to 
say some things to you in this private and personal letter. 
While I and my people acknowledge our deep debt of gratitude 
to your trustees and congregation, we feel to you above any 
other man, we owe the great favors which have been done us. 
To your free-handed liberality, we are indebted for the hospi- 
tality extended over three years; a hospitality so generous and 
noble, it has excited the wonder of the world. 

Our great father Abraham could not have been more 
courteous, more kind or more helpful to the passing stranger, 
whom He invited into His tent — washed his feet and gave him 
to eat, than you have been to us. You are a Prince in Israel 



102 



and leader in any company of men. Your heart Is as large as 
your ability and your fame as a philanthropist will increase as 
time goes on and men learn to estimate you at your true value. 
Personally, and in behalf of my congregation, I thank and 
bless you In the name of the Lord who will surely reward you 
for all your good works. 

Very Sincerely Yours, 

Charles D. Shaw. 



IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION. 

At the general meeting of the Congregation of B'Nai 
Jeshurun, held at their Temple on Sunday, April 12, 1896, the 
following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 

Whereas — The Honorable Nathan Barnert, by his wise 
counsel and his devotion to the cause of religion, rendered 
invaluable assistance in the erection of our glorious Temple 
which bears his name; and 

Whereas — The Honorable Nathan Barnert has by his 
many acts of benevolence and charity and by his numerous and 
magnificent gifts to our Temple, shown a spirit of philanthropy 
worthy of emulation; therefore be It 

Resolved — That the Honorable Nathan Barnert has en- 
deared himself to the members of his Congregation by his 
religious spirit and love in the cause of Judaism; 

Resolved — That we herewith tender him our sincere and 
heartfelt thanks, and shall ever pray an All Wise Providence 
to shield him from illness and to prolong his life, together with 
his beloved helpmate for years, and bless them with content- 
ment and happiness. 

Resolved — That the foregoing resolutions be placed on a 
separate page on the minutes and a copy of the same tendered 
the Honorable Nathan Barnert. 

Committee on Resolutions. 



103 



MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE 

SCHOOL. 

The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School has 
had its changes and developments just as any other institution 
in the course of our lives. We begin with the simple and in- 
significant until we arrive to the most complex and important. 
In 1895, a few of the leading Jewish citizens of Pater- 
son realized the necessity of providing a school for the intelli- 
gent training of poor children in the faith of their fathers. A 
meeting was called with most gratifying results. Forty pupils 
answered the first roll call. The small band of zealots, how- 
ever, met the usual fate awaiting the infancy of most philan- 
thropic movements. These children all haled from the public 
schools, and it became at once apparent that only the manner 
of instruction employed in the great secular system could be 
used. 

This meant teachers experienced in the modern methods, 
up-to-date text books and regulations which would supplant in 
an ethical sense, the instruction received in the earlier hours of 
the day. Inasmuch as tuition would be free to those whose 
parents were unable to pay the purely nominal charges from 
the school itself as a self-supporting institution, little could be. 
expected. Appeals were made to the public, but funds grew 
smaller and smaller, and in a dark hour it seemed as though 
another high ideal, one of the many for which our faith has 
ever striven, must be shattered. 

Former Mayor Nathan Barnert, facile princeps in all 
public-spirited movements, interested himself in the affairs of 
the school, and his enthusiastic devotion and abiding confidence 
in the incalculable good that must result from the noble pur- 
poses and aims of the institution, spelt success. His wife, the 

105 



late Miriam Barnert, joined him in attending the sessions of 
the school from time to time, then held in a small back room 
on the third floor of the old Smith and Jackson building on 
Market Street. Others followed their example and at once a 
lively interest in its affairs was awakened. 

On May i, 1902, Mr. Barnert deeded the land at the 
Erie crossing and Broadway for the building of a home for the 
school. The land was deeded in trust to the late Marcus 
Cohn, David H. Bilder, David Bohm, the late Simon Opet, 
Nathan Fleischer, Boas Barnert, Hyman Salzberg and David 
Cohn, for the following purposes: 

*'To be used by the Hebrew Free School Association of 
Paterson, New Jersey, for a free school for the instruction of 
Hebrew children as hereinafter mentioned, provided, that the 
said premises are to be permitted to be used by the said Associa- 
tion as aforesaid upon the following conditions, namely, the 
said building and any building that shall at any time be erected 
on said land in the place thereof shall be in memory of Miriam 
Barnert, the deceased wife of the said Nathan Barnert and in- 
scribed and kept inscribed, "The Miriam Barnert Memorial 
Hebrew Free School," and shall be, after the erec- 
tion thereof always kept by the said Association in 
good condition and repair, and properly insured against 
loss or damage by fire, and the said school shall be 
open for the instruction of Hebrew children as aforesaid on 
every day excepting Fridays and National, State and Hebrew 
Holidays ; the children attending said school shall be thoroughly 
instructed by competent teachers, provided by the said Associa- 
tion in the Hebrew language, in the Old Testament of the 
Bible in the original Hebrew, and the translation of the same 
into English, in the Jewish history and religion and the study 
of Talmud, and religious services shall be held and conducted 
in said school every Friday evening and every Saturday morn- 
ing, unless the trustees herein for the time being shall otherwise 

106 




MIRIAM EARNER! MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE SCHOOL. 



direct, who may, if they deem it advisable so to do, permit a 
discontinuance of said services on one or both of said days; no 
child shall be permitted to attend and be instructed in said 
school who shall not be a pupil of a public school, and on each 
and every anniversary of the death of each of the following 
mentioned persons, namely; the father of the said Nathan Bar- 
nert, Myer Barnert, who died on the tenth day of July, eigh- 
teen hundred and eighty-one, (the fourteenth day of Tamuz, 
five thousand six hundred and forty-one, Hebrew Calendar), 
the mother of the said Nathan Barnert, Ida Barnert, who died 
on the twenty-eighth day of October, eighteen hundred and 
ninety (the twenty-sixth day of Tishri, five thousand six hun- 
dred and fifty-one, Hebrew Calendar), the father-in-law 
of the said Nathan Barnert, Philip H. Phillips, who died on 
the twenty-fifth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
eight (the second day of Adar, five thousand six hundred and 
twenty-eight, Hebrew Calendar), the mother-in-law of the 
said Nathan Barnert, Jane Phillips, who died on the twenty- 
eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, (the 
twentieth day of Adar Rishon, five thousand six hundred and 
fifty-one, Hebrew Calendar) the wife of the said Nathan Bar- 
nert, Miriam (or Mary) Barnert, who died on the thirty-first 
day of March, nineteen hundred and one, (the eleventh day of 
Nisan, five thousand six hundred and sixty-one, Hebrew Calen- 
dar) , and the said Nathan Barnert, the pupils of said school 
and such directors or other members of the Association as shall 
be required to make up a minj^an of ten, at morning and even- 
ing prayers, shall repeat the kaddish, in memory of the person 
whose anniversary is then celebrated; and provided further, 
that no mortgage shall ever be placed on the said land and 
building, or either of them, or any part thereof, and the same, 
or any part thereof, shall never be sold or conveyed away unless 
it shall become necessary or advisable to change the location of 
said school, in which case the said land and building may be 

107 



conveyed by the vote of at least six of the trustees herein for 
the time being, including the president, but the proceeds of such 
sale shall forthwith thereafter used in the purchase of another 
lot of land and the erection thereon of another building suit- 
able for the same purpose, said land and building to be sub- 
stituted in all respects for the ones so sold and conveyed, and to 
be held and permitted to be used for the same purpose and upon 
the same conditions as aforesaid; and in case of such sale and 
conveyance of the said first mentioned lot and building, the pur- 
chase of another lot and the erection thereon of another build- 
ing as aforesaid, the money arising from such sale shall be used 
and handled only by at least six of the trustees." 

A supplemental deed w^as draw^n on April 29, 1903, 
wherein Joel Barnert was named trustee to succeed David 
Bohm, deceased, and the Rabbi of the Congregation B'Nai 
Jeshurun became an honorary director of the association. 

The Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs, who was for years, rabbi of the 
congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, and who is deeply interested in 
the Hebrew Free School, is an honorary director of the 
association to whose splendid endeavors, the entire school is 
deeply indebted. 

DEDICATION OF SCHOOL. 

The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School was 
dedicated on Tuesday afternoon, September 27, 1904, with 
impressive services. The program opened with the ode Nebu- 
chanezzer, by Verdi. A fervent prayer was then offered by 
the Rev. A. S. Isaacs. This was followed by a song, "Ma 
Tovu," by the children of the school, under the direction of 
Superintendent Hess and the Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld. 

The address of welcome was delivered by Mr. Nathan 
Fleischer. The program was interspersed with music, ''etoile 
du Nord," by Myerbeer, being played by the orchestra, after 
which Mr. Nathan Barnert, who presented the school to the 

108 



public of Paterson, delivered the keys and deeds. Mr. Barncrt 
spoke feelingly and all present mourned with him for the good 
woman whose earthly memory was thus enshrined in the brick 
and iron of the building. 

The address of acceptance on behalf of the trustees was 
delivered by the late Mr. Marcus Cohn, after which Psalms 
were sung by the children. Counsellor David H. Bilder, read 
a history of the Hebrew Free School Association outlining the 
work that had been done. The remainder of the program was 
as follows: 

Address — Solomon Schechter, M. A Litt. D. (Cantab.) 

Consecration Sermon — Rev. Dr. H. Pereira Mendes. 
Dedication ode composed by M. Shinedling, and Translated 
by David Cohn: 

Arise, Israel's sons and daughters, 

Your voices raise. 
On this grand day attune your praise 

To Our Hebrew Free School in beauty girt, 
In Memory of sainted iMiriaim Barnert. 

Here, we drink at Learning's fou'nt, 

With zeal learn lessons from Sinai's mount; 

As citizens, patriots, loyal to Liberty's sod, 
As Jews, steadfast to Israel's God. 

Nathan Barnert — thy gift will stand, 

A tribute to one honoTed in our land. 

Its beauty like thy life-work will endure, 
A model for character — lofty and pure. 

May God bless here the pupil, the teacher and the friend 
And all whose influence for the best twill tend, 

And may these walls long with raptures ring. 
As young and old, their offerings bring. 

Address — Rev. David Blaustein. 
Address— Rev. Dr. R. M. Radin. 
Coronation March — "Le Prophete," 

Myerbeer, Robinson's Orchestra. 



109 



Mincha and Memorial Service — Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld. 
Memorial Sermon*— Rev. Raphael Benjamin, M. A. 
Prayer — Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs. 
Hymn — "America," 

Children of Hebrew Free School and Assembly. 

The officers and directors of the school w^ere: Nathan 
Barnert, President; the late Marcus Cohn, Vice-President; 
Joseph Krulan, Treasurer; Hyman Salzberg, Financial Sec- 
retary; David H. Bilder, Recording Secretary; Nathan 
Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, the late Simon Opet, David Cohn, 
Boas Barnert, the late Lazar Lapat, Isaac Surnamer, M. D., 
the late Adolph M. White, Isadore H. Levine, Moses Shined- 
ling, the Rev. Abram S. Isaacs, honorary director. 

Principals of the school were: Elias S. Solomon, Solo- 
mon Kielson, who served one year each; Rabbi S. Uslander, 
who served for a term of seven years, Harry Arlosow, who 
served one year and the Rev. Mr. Kaaplander, the present 
principal, 191 4. 

On an average of five hundred pupils ranging in age from 
six to fourteen years are in daily attendance, excepting Satur- 
day, between the hours of four in the afternoon and seven in 
the evening. Instruction is given in Biblical and Post-Biblical 
history, reading and translation of Hebrew, together with a 
comprehensive knowledge of the Jewish ritual and ceremonies. 
The first requisite of attendance is that the applicant must be 
an attendant of one of the public schools. The expense of an 
efficient staff of teachers headed by the principal, together with 
text books and stationary, is defrayed by voluntary contribu- 
tions and membership in the Hebrew Free School Association. 
Donations from the Gentiles are not infrequent. 

As to the building itself: Six class rooms on the second 
floor are utilized exclusively for teaching purposes. The third 
and fourth floors consist of large assembly rooms where lectures 
on educational subjects are delivered during the winter months. 



1 10 



These rooms are also available for entertainments and meet- 
ings, and thus constitute a means of revenue for the needs of 
the school. 

A visit to the school is always welcomed. Many of its 
teachers are employed in the public schools. Graduates are 
prominent in the business and professional channels of the city. 
The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School in the 
scope of its solution of the problem of religious instruction has 
already attained a national reputation. 

OFFICERS AND FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL. 

The officers and directors of the school follow: Nathan 
Barnert, President; Boas Barnert, Vice-President; Joseph 
Krulan, Treasurer; Arnold Levy, Secretary; Max Altschuler, 
David Cohn, S. M. Cohn, I. Horowitz, D. J. Lefkowitz, 
David Bilder, Joseph Pansy, Dr. D. H. Mendelsohn, Dr. I. 
Feigenoff, Dr. I. Surnamer, David Gordon, Dr. A. Raffman, 
Jacob Fabian, S. Germansky, H. B. Kitay, M. Shinedling 
and A. J. Bluestein. 

The Life Trustees of the building are: Nathan Barnert, 
President; David Cohn, Secretary; Boas Barnert, Nathan 
Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, Hyman Salzberg, Sigmund Cohn 
and Joel Barnert. 

Faculty of the school — H. Kaaplander, Principal; 
Teachers, M. Gross, Harry Braverman, Max Helfant, Louis 
Friedman, William Kaufman, M. Rubenstein, Anna Behrman, 
Rose Marcus and Tillie Cohen. 

Sessions of the school from 3.45 o'clock until 7.15 o'clock, 
week days, excepting holidays, and on Sundays from 9 o'clock 
in the morning until 12 o'clock, noon. 

Following are the subjects taught: 

Class i-B — Kindergarten. 

Class i-A — Reading, Translation, Prayers and History. 



Ill 



Class 2-B — Advanced Reading, Translations, Prayers 
and History. 

Class 2-A — ^Advanced Reading, Translations, Prayers 
and History. 

Class 3-B — Translations from the Bible, Grammar, He- 
brew Translations, Writing, History, Prayers, Etc. 

Class 3-A — Advanced Course. 

Class 4-B — Translations, Commentaries on Bible-Rashi, 
Tenach and Writing. 

Class 4-A — Bar Mitzvah Class. Pupils in this class, 
although they have completed the course of study are not grad- 
uated until they attain the age of thirteen years and are con- 
firmed. They are taught the duties which are about to be dele- 
gated to their trust, the use and meaning of Tephilin. 

''our tribute.^' 

This Is the first day of the Fourth quarter of a century in 
the life of Our President, the Honorable Nathan Barnert. 
This is the day which the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and 
be glad therein. 

The outward effect of your life among us is visible. We 
can see this memorial building and its classes. We can see 
many more monuments of charity and philanthropy of your 
founding, but the inner life is invisible. You cannot see the 
stream of Divine influence which is poured into the spirit of 
young Israel in this school, nor can you hear the sweet whispers 
of Divine love coming from teacher's lips and pupil'? heart, 
nor can you comprehend the peace and joy produced by your 
open-hand for true Jewish charity. 

In these signatures from the hands of four hundred inno- 
cent little children, we wish you to read the perfect love of 
childhood going out to you, the hidden peace and joy coming 



112 






i:=i?>;^xx^€;3>c^ 



MuniiRiiililiilliiiilliimff! 



\. Huv iv !!ic .Vt u'hifit ilu' '.l^v-T^ halh ntuv'^c 



T?e^)? DrT> 



T^T 



^i^^> 





lt»? ^niU}'<\n*» cflVd <>ft}«?%u* lite ant<w<t itf ie%nvJhK\ iJ><? can 0<?« iiti<i 



unticir ivfvHtr 






of T>fvht <?JUtn«Cttcc 
Sat<»i?i, twt i\«t iy<Hj 






nivJi'>"»i^"*s'^." 



^vHir 




.,..3^-4^ 



cut to uc^\t.lhv» hu'*5«t^^ca<rc atii> unf vomntd lr<Mn Jhc *.Judjt «'k<?I« 
,y.^ U\ llu-AcJv^a: InnuV^S nam«o ott Uti$ ^:*crv>U Ih'Io ikhj (cut ItuuvW^ 







TESTIMONIAL PRESENTED TO NATHAN BAKXERX 

BY FACULTY AND PUPILS OF THE 

MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE SCHOOL. 



from the study of Holy Torah and let these four hundred 
names on this scroll be to you four hundred cheering voices in- 
spiring you on your onward march to complete your century of 
life in God — through righteousness, through love and charity. 

Presented to the Honorable Nathan Barnert, our Presi- 
dent, by Boas Barnert, Vice-President; Joseph Krulan, Treas- 
urer; Arnold Levy, Recording Secretary; Joseph Pansy, Finan- 
cial Secretary; Jacob Fabian, S. M. Cohn, Dr. I. Feigenoff, 
M. S. Germansky, A. D. Cohen, D. H. Bilder, A. Bluestein, 
David Gordon, I. Horowitz, H. B. Kitay, Dr. D. H. Mendel- 
sohn, Dr. A. Raffman, H. Salzberg, M. Shinedling, Dr. I. 
Surnamer, and David Cohn, Chairman of Committee. Tishri, 
II, 5674, October 13, 1913. 



"3 



NATHAN AND MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL 
HOSPITAL. 

Declaring their belief in the need of a dispensary and hos- 
pital where both Jews and Gentiles could find relief and where 
the Jewish dietry laws could strictly be observed, Drs. Charles 
Reigrod, S. Silberstein and Israel Le Vine, met at the latter's 
home, on Paterson Street, on August 15, 1908, and discussed 
the advisability of starting such a movement. At the follow- 
ing meeting, September i, when there were present in addition 
to those already named, Drs. Louis Shnayerson, N. Colar- 
curcci, and Joel Barnert, it was decided to organize as the 
Miriam Barnert Dispensary Association. Nathan Barnert, on 
being consulted, gave permission on October 10, to the use of 
the name of his late beloved helpmate to the institution, and 
also donated $25 a month toward its maintainance. 

At that time it was planned that English, German, 
French, Jewish, Italian, Hungarian, Slavish and other foreign 
languages should be spoken in order that the poor, regardless 
of faith and creed, could be given proper treatment with medi- 
cine as they were often handicapped in making themselves 
clearly understood by physicians with whom they were unable 
to converse in their mother tongue. 

The dispensary was formally launched at a meeting held 
at the home of Dr. Shnayerson, 356 Van Houten Street, on 
October 15, 1908, when the following temporary officers were 
named: Dr. S. Silberstein, President; Dr. N. Colarcurcci, 
Vice-President; Dr. I. Le Vine, Treasurer, and Mr. S. Fried- 
lander, Secretary. Board of Trustees — Drs. S. Silberstein, 
Charles Reigrod, I. Le Vine, N. Colarcurcci, L. Shnayerson, J. 
Barnert, the Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld, S. Friedlander, Jacob 

115 



Fabian, J. L. Kaufman, Henry Marelli, H. Stelner, Louis 
Spitz, I. S. Cigol and William Aronsohn. 

The officers were permanently elected at a meeting held 
on November 5th, at the office of Dr. Shnayerson, 14 Bank 
Street. 

While no open appeal had been made, the more prominent 
and influential of the Jewish citizens came forward with ready 
funds to boost along the new institution. 

On Monday, November 17, 1908, Dr. Louis Shnayerson 
made the pleasing announcement that former Mayor Nathan 
Barnert had made a large contribution, and that it was out of 
respect to the wishes of the philanthropist that a public an- 
nouncement of the amount should not be made at that time. 
It was stated that the trustees had taken over the building at 
56 Hamilton Avenue, which would be the home of the dispen- 
sary. It was suggested that Dr. Philander A. Harris, Dr. 
Brian C. Magennis and Dr. Rush Neer be appointed as con- 
sultants to the staff. Dr. F. Vigna was also added to the list 
of attending physicians. 

Certificate of incorporation of the Miriam Barnert Dis- 
pensary Association was filed with the Secretary of State at 
Trenton, on November 28, 1908, with the following incorpo- 
rators: Samuel Silberstein, M. D., Charles Reigrod, M. D., 
Israel Le Vine, M. D., Nicolo Colarcurcci M. D., Louis 
Shnayerson, D. D. S., Rev. Alexander S. Kleinfeld, Jacob 
Fabian, Henry Marelli, Louis Spitz, Frank A. Cigol, William 
Aronsohn, Herman Steiner, Joseph L. Kaufman, Samuel 
Friedlander, Joel Barnert. 

The dispensary was formally opened for inspection on 
Sunday afternoon, November 29, 1908, and for treatment of 
patients on the following day. The opening address was made 
by Mayor Andrew F. McBride, followed by the Rev. A. S. 
Kleinfeld, of the Temple Emanu-El; Rev. Dr. Charles D. 

116 



Shaw, Rev. Leo Mannheimer, Henry Marelli, Dr. S. Silber- 
stein, former Mayor Nathan Barnert and Rabbi Seltzer and 
John E. Kauffman. 

Mayor McBride, in his opening address, fittingly referred 
to the late Mrs. Barnert, to whose memory the institution had 
been founded and he eulogized her and her husband for the 
good they had done in Paterson. Ex-Mayor Barnert followed, 
thanking the previous speaker for the kind reference to his late 
wife. Mr. Barnert said that he was glad to have the opportunity 
to be identified with such a worthy cause and one which he 
prayed would redound to the credit of the people of Paterson. 
The need and usefulness of the new institution was shown by 
the large number of people applying for treatment. It, there- 
fore, increased the running expenses of the dispensary, and it 
was decided by the Board of Managers to interest the ladies to 
form an auxiliary. The Ladies' Auxiliary was formed on 
April 21, 1909, at a meeting held in the Dispensary, 56 Hamil- 
ton Avenue. The following officers were elected: Mrs. L. 
Shnayerson, President; Mrs. Charles Reigrod, Vice-President; 
Miss Dora Dresner, Secretary; Mrs. S. Silberstein, Treasurer. 
Owing to the continued increased demand upon the institution, 
the Board of Managers decided to engage larger quarters, and 
also to install a number of beds for the housing of patients. 

On December 15, 19 10, the Crosby house on Broadway 
and Paterson Street, was rented and altered. On January 2, 
191 1, the dispensary abandoned its old quarters and moved to 
its new home. 

The new officers and directors at this time were: Louis 
Spitz, President; S. Freidlander, Vice-President; John Kauff- 
man, Treasurer, and Max Rosen, Secretary. Managers: 
Morris Jacobson, Jacob Konner, John Charney, Nathan Lub- 
lin, J. Rosenzweig, L Speiman, A. Wolf, Phillip Diamond, D. 
Atkin, Morris Grossman, B. Borenstein, Jacob Silberman, Abe 
Kauffman. 



117 



On June 26, 191 1, additions were made to the dispensary 
with the creation of several wards, and patients were taken in 
for regular hospital treatment on July 6, 191 1. April 6, 
1914, the name of the institution was changed to the Nathan 
and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Association. 

BEGINNING OF THE NEW HOSPITAL. 

On October 12, 19 13, the day after Yom Kippur, Day 
of Atonement, while Mr. Barnert was still quietly observing 
his seventy-fifth birthday, the Board of Directors of the 
Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School Association, 
presented him with a beautiful parchment memorial, rolled in 
the form of a scroll on black leather with a silver lining. The 
tribute contained the original signatures of each pupil attend- 
ing the school, together with that of the principal and teacher, 
numbering in all about 450 names. 

The tribute follows in part: — 

"The outward effect of your life among us is visible. We 
can see this memorial building and its classes. We can see 
many more monuments of charity and philanthropy of your 
founding but the inner life is invisible. You cannot see the 
stream of Divine influence which is poured into the spirit of 
young Israel in this school, nor can you hear the sweet whispers 
of Divine love coming from teacher's lips to pupil's heart, nor 
can you comprehend the peace and joy produced by your open 
hand for true Jewish charity. 

*'In these signatures from the hands of four hundred inno- 
cent little children, we wish you to read the perfect love of 
childhood going out to you, the hidden peace and joy coming 
from the study of Holy Torah." 

Mayor Barnert was visibly affected by this splendid 
tribute of esteem, and in his simple way, reiterated his interest 
in the school — if that was really necessary — and of his continued 
support of the institution. Then, after a short pause, Mr. 

118 



Barnert inquired of the Directors as to how many of them were 
interested in the Miriam Barnert Hospital. The following 
answered: Jacob Fabian, Herman B. Kitay, I. Horowitz and 
A. I. Bluestein. 

Mr. Barnert then desired to be informed as to the progress 
of the hospital and also as to whether or not a larger institu- 
tion with more commodious accommodations would benefit the 
city at large. Upon receiving assurances from the Directors 
that a larger hospital with more modern accommodations would 
be greatly appreciated, Mr. Barnert announced that he would 
donate $150,000 together with sixteen city lots situated on 
Broadway, between Thirtieth and Thirty-first Streets, and 
Thirteenth Avenue. 

LAND DEEDED FOR HOSPITAL. 

This indenture made the twenty-seventh day of April in 
the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, 
between Nathan Barnert (widower), of the city of Paterson, 
in the County of Passaic, and the State of New Jersey, of the 
first part, and Jacob Fabian, Max Rosen, Boas Barnert, Louis 
Spitz, Herman B. Kitay, Gustave Mikola, Sender Federbush, 
Abraham L Bluestein, Arnold Levy, and Sigmund M. Cohn of 
the said city of Paterson, and Meyer Barnert of the city of 
Minneapolis, in the State of Minnesota, as trustees as herein- 
after mentioned, of the second part, witnesses, that the said 
party of the first part, in consideration of the sum of one dollar 
to him paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt 
whereof is hereby acknowledged, and of the benevolent pur- 
poses hereinafter mentioned, has granted, bargained, sold, 
aliened, remised, released, conveyed and confirmed, and by these 
presents does grant, bargain, sell, align, remise, release, convey 
and confirm unto the said party of the second part, and to their 
heirs, successors in the trust, and assigns, forever, all that tract 



119 



or parcel of land and premises hereinafter particularly de- 
scribed, situate, lying and being in the city of Paterson afore- 
said. 

Beginning at the southeast corner of Broadway and East 
Thirtieth Street, and running thence (i) easterly along the 
southerly line of Broadway, two hundred and one feet and 
eighty-four one-hundredths of a foot to the southwest corner of 
Broadway and East Thirty-first Street; thence (2) southerly 
along the westerly line of East Thirty-first Street, two hundred 
and ten feet and seventy-eight one hundredths of a foot to the 
northwest corner of East Thirty-first Street and Thirteenth 
Avenue; thence (3) westerly along the northerly line of Thir- 
teenth Avenue, two hundred feet to the northeast corner of 
Thirteenth Avenue and East Thirtieth Street, and thence (4) 
northerly along the easterly line of East Thirtieth Street, one 
hundred and eighty- three feet and fifty-nine one hundredths of 
a foot to the place of beginning; being the same premises con- 
veyed to the said party of the first part by Sarah Truman by 
deed dated the i6th day of July, 1886, and recorded in the 
office of the Register of Deeds for the said County of Passaic, 
in Book K-8 of deeds for said county on pages 135, &c. 

To have and to hold all and singular the above granted 
premises, together with the appurtenances, unto the said party 
of the second part, their heirs, successors in the trust, and 
assigns, forever, upon the trusts, nevertheless, and to and for the 
uses, interests and purposes hereinafter limited, described and 
declared, that is to say, upon trust to permit the same and the 
building or buildings to be erected thereon by the said party of 
the first part, and any building or buildings that may after- 
wards be erected on said land in the place thereof, to be used 
by the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Asso- 
ciation, a corporation organized under the laws of said State of 
New Jersey, for the conduct, operation and maintenance of a 
hospital, for the reception and medical and surgical treatment 



120 



and care of sick, injured and infirm persons, and the providing 
of a place where such persons may be furnished with food and 
shelter, while under such treatment; provided that the said 
premises shall be permitted to be so used by the said association 
upon the following conditions, namely: The said building or 
buildings, and any building or buildings that shall be in memory 
of Miriam Barnert, the deceased wife of the said party of the 
first part, and of the said party of the first part, appropriate 
inscription or inscriptions showing that fact to be made, placed 
and perpetually maintained on such building, or on the main 
building, if there be more than one building; and shall be after 
the erection thereof, always kept by the said association in good 
condition and repair, and properly insured against loss or dam- 
age by fire; and the said hospital shall be non-sectarian, and the 
food supplies by it for use therein shall be provided in accord- 
ance with the Hebrew Dietary and Kosher; and the said hos- 
pital shall be devoted as far as practicable to the accommo- 
dation of poor people without compensation, or with such limited 
compensation as they may be able to give; the practice, rules 
and regulations in respect thereto and in respect to the compen- 
sation to be paid by other patients than those above mentioned to 
be subject to the control of said trustees for the time being; and 
all such compensation to be applied towards the payment of the 
running expenses of said hospital ; and said trustees for the time 
being to have general supervision of and right of visitation over 
said hospital; and further, that no mortgage shall ever be 
placed on the said land and building or buildings, or any of 
them or any part thereof, and the same or any part thereof 
shall never be sold or conveyed away unless it shall become 
necessary or advisable to change the location of said hospital, in 
which case the said land and building or buildings may be sold 
and conveyed upon the vote of at least seven of the said trus- 
tees, and the proceeds of such sale shall be forthwith thereafter 
used in the purchase of another plot of land and the erection 



121 



thereon of another building or other buildings, suitable for the 
same purposes, such other land and building or buildings not 
to cost less than one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; 
and said other land and building or buildings to be substitutes 
in all respects for the ones so sold and conveyed, and to be held 
and permitted to be used for the same purposes, and upon the 
same conditions as aforesaid ; and in case of such sale and con- 
veyance of the said first mentioned plot and the purchase of 
another plot and the erection thereon of another building or 
other buildings as aforesaid, the money arising from such sale 
shall be used and handled only by at least seven of the said 
trustees for the time being, including their president; and these 
provisions for the sale and conveyance of the said first men- 
tioned plot and building or buildings, and the purchase of 
another plot and the erection thereon of another building or 
other buildings, shall apply to all subsequent cases w^henever 
and as often as it shall be necessary or advisable to change the 
location of such hospital; and in case the building or buildings 
on said land, or on any land held in the place thereof as afore- 
said, shall at any time be destroyed or damaged by fire, the 
insurance money received on account thereof shall be used by 
the said trustees for the time being in repairing said building or 
buildings or erecting a new^ one or new ones in the place 
thereof, as the case may require ; and provided further, that the 
said trustees, present or future, shall not incur any indebted- 
ness which may or can subject such premises, or any part 
thereof, to a lien therefore or a sale thereof to satisfy the same, 
without having at the time of doing so sufficient money on hand 
that can be applied to cash payment, and duly applying the 
same to such payment. 

In case the said trustees or their successors shall permit 
the said premises, or any premises held in the place thereof as 
aforesaid, to be used as aforesaid otherwise than upon the con- 
ditions aforesaid, or shall place a mortgage on such land or on 



122 



the building or buildings that may be thereon, or any of them 
or any part thereof, or sell or convey such land except as afore- 
said, or refuse or neglect to repair or rebuild any building 
thereon that may be damaged or destroyed by fire as aforesaid, 
or incur any indebtedness which may or can subject such 
premises, or any part thereof, to a lien therefor or a sale thereof 
to satisfy the same, except as aforesaid, then the estate in said 
premises hereby granted shall cease and terminate, and such 
land and the building or buildings that may be thereon, shall 
revert to the said party of the first part, if he shall be then 
living, or to his heirs in case he shall not be then living. 

And in case the said hospital association shall at any time 
be dissolved, or shall refuse or neglect to use the building or 
buildings that may be erected on said land in the place thereof, 
or any building or buildings that may be erected on any land 
that may be held in the place of said land as aforesaid, as here- 
inbefore provided, for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned, or 
shall refuse or neglect to comply v^rith any of the conditions 
hereinbefore specified upon which it is to be permitted to use 
such building or buildings as hereinbefore provided its per- 
mission to use said land and building or buildings, shall be 
withdrawn by the said trustees for the time being, and the said 
trustees for the time being shall have the power to either permit 
some other like organization to use the said land and building 
or buildings for the same purposes as hereinbefore specified upon 
the conditions hereinbefore prescribed, or to use the said land 
and building or buildings themselves for the same purposes 
upon the same conditions; and in case of their failure to do one 
of these things within three years after such permission shall 
have been withdrawn then the estate in said premises hereby 
granted shall cease and terminate, and the said land and the 
building or buildings that may be thereon shall revert to the 
said party of the first part if he shall be then living or to his 
heirs in case he shall not be then living. And these provisions 

123 



shall apply to and in the case of each and every one of such like 
organizations as may be permitted to use said land and build- 
ing or buildings as aforesaid. 

The powers and duties of the said trustees and their suc- 
cessors in addition to the powers and duties hereinbefore vested 
in and required of them, and such other powers and duties as 
shall vest in and be required of them by virtue of their office, 
shall be as hereinafter mentioned, and they shall observe the 
rules and regulations hereinafter stated, namely: 

1. The said trustees shall meet as soon as they conve- 
niently can after the delivery hereof, and organize by the elec- 
tion from their own body of a president and secretary, and 
such other officers as they shall deem advisable, who shall per- 
form the duties hereinafter devolved upon them, and such 
other duties as are usually performed by such officers, and who 
shall hold their respective offices for one year and until their 
successors in such offices shall be elected. 

2. At the said meeting of said trustees they shall fix a 
time and place for holding an annual meeting in each and 
every year, which time and place may be changed at any annual 
meeting, or at any special meeting as hereinafter provided. 

3. Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the 
request of the president or of any three of the trustees, or by 
the president himself, or by any five of the trustees, but a notice 
in writing of every such meeting shall be delivered or sent by 
mail to each trustee three days at least before the date of the 
meeting, and every such notice shall state the place, day and 
hour of the meeting, and the nature of the business to be trans- 
acted thereat. 

4. At every meeting, six trustees shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business. 

5. Said trustees shall have power to remove any officer 
or trustee for misconduct or neglect of duty, which, however, 



124 



shall be done only by a vote of at least seven of the trustees 
for the time being. 

6. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of presi- 
dent or secretary or trustee, the trustees shall as soon as they 
conveniently can hold a special meeting to fill the vacancy, and 
proceed to choose some person to fill the same. 

7. The title to the said premises and any premises pur- 
chased in the place thereof as aforesaid shall at all times vest in 
the said trustees for the time being, unless or until the said land 
shall revert to the said party of the first part or his heirs as 
aforesaid, and all acts and proceedings, if any, that may be re- 
quired to be done and taken to vest such title in new trustees 
chosen from time to time, shall be done and taken by the 
trustees. 

In vi^itness whereof the said party of the first part has 
hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above 
written. 
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered 

In the presence of 

Geo. S. Hilton, Nathan Barnert, 

(Signed) (Signed) Seal. 

GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW HOSPITAL. 

Plans for the new hospital were drawn by Frederick W. 
Wentworth. When Mr. Barnert first announced his inten- 
tion, he believed that the structure could be built for $125,000. 
He declared that the institution must embody all the require- 
ments of an up-to-date hospital, with all the valuable points to 
make it meet the needs of the community for which it was 
intended for the years to come. It was, however, found that 
the estimate was too low. Mr. Barnert, however, with his 
characteristic generosity, gave orders to spare no expense, and 
when the bids were asked, discovery was made that the hos- 

125 



pital when completed will have cost about $250,000. It was 
a joyous occasion on Monday afternoon, July 20, 19 14, when 
ground was broken on the site. Jacob Fabian, chairman of 
the building committee, was master of ceremonies and intro- 
duced Nathan Barnert. Mr. Barnert, impressed with the in- 
terests of his friends, said: 

"It has been my ambition since the death of my wife, to 
erect a hospital where the sufferings of all, regardless of sect 
or religion, race or color, could receive proper care and, medical 
attention. I pray Almighty God that I may live to see this 
hospital fulfilling the purpose for which it is erected." 

Dr. Abram S. Isaacs, former Rabbi of the Barnert 
Memorial Temple, then delivered the following address: 

''While the ceremony of breaking ground for a hospital 
is informal and not to be compared to the cornerstone laying 
or the dedication of the structure, its value is not to be under- 
rated. There are sermons in stones — sometimes unhappily 
stones in sermons — and there is a living text in a clod of earth. 

"When man was created, so runs an old rabbinical fancy, 
God did not take the dust from one special part of the world, 
but from all corners, to teach the unity of mankind and human 
brotherhood. Some of us think we are born of gold, some 
seem made of brass and some claim to be born of precious 
stones, of a finer quality than the ordinary mortal. The 
Jewish interpretation is the broader — mankind is one. 'Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' One law for the stranger 
and the native-born. 

"The hospital, for which ground is now broken, is to be a 
living conception of this Jewish conception. It will be open 
to all, of whatever creed, and no poor sufferer shall be turned 
away, whatever his race or origin. 'Ye were strangers in the 
land of Egypt, ye shall love the stranger.' 

"This view of a Judaism, broad and tolerant, is ignored 
by the critics and occasionally unrecognized by the Jew himself. 

126 



But the whole trend of Jewish thought and history teaches the 
lesson of a gentle universalism, and to-day you will find no 
clearer illustration than in the lavish gifts without distinctions 
of creed made by wealthy Jews and Jewesses. Thus, a Hall- 
garten wills princely sums to Jewish and to Christian institu- 
tions. Thus, a Rosenwald endows Y. M. C. A. buildings for 
our colored brothers throughout the land. A Montefiore 
pleads for the persecuted Christians as well as the per- 
secuted Russian Jews and a Schiff never limits himself in his 
benevolence to the house of Israel. 

"A clod of earth illustrates still another lesson. In the 
older tabernacle, the altar was to be of earth. Humility is to 
be taught even in a place of worship! That is no centre for 
spiritual bargain sales or commercialized privileges to the 
higher bidder. There, if anywhere let us have genuine 
humility and not the loud-voiced saintliness of the purse-proud. 

''The hospital, which takes its beginning from the clod of 
earth, is to teach humility to its supporters. If they give in its 
behalf, that is only their privilege, and a return for the gifts 
they receive from the Almighty. The generous founder need 
not be told how deep and lasting must be his gratitude for the 
energy, health and strength which makes possible this, his latest 
benefaction, not for his own glory, but for the enrichment of 
mankind, and the vindication of his ancestral faith. It is the 
gift, not the giver, that takes the highest rank. It was only 
because her grateful heart was in her gift that the poor widow's 
offering of a little barley was accepted. It is the heart we put 
into our gifts, the love and the compassion that sweeten them 
which makes the offering genuine, whether costly or small. 

''In a few months the building will approach completion, 
crowning one of the fairest sites of our progressive city. In 
generous rivalry with other hospitals, whose work is so 
esteemed by all of us, it will teach the lesson of a kindly fellow- 
ship to the citizens of Paterson. May God, without whom we 



127 



build in vain, give strength and permanence to this institution! 
May its equipment be thorough, its management broad and 
capable, its influence for good far-reaching! May the hun- 
dreds, the thousands in the coming years who enter here 
find healing and strength within its portals! And may it per- 
petuate for a blessing the memory of the prince and princess in 
Israel who were joined so faithfully in life, shall be linked as 
firmly in eternity." 

Dr. Isaacs was followed by Mr. Wentworth, and by Max 
Rosen, president of the Hospital Association. Mr. Barnert 
was then called upon once more and turned the first spadeful 
of earth. Mr. Barnert dug deep, lifted the earth and threw 
it into a waiting wagon. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE HOSPITAL. 

The hospital will be situated in the center of a beautiful 
plot of ground covering a full city block and bounded by 
Broadway on the north. East Thirty-first Street on the east, 
Thirteenth Avenue on the south, and East Thirtieth Street, on 
the west; forty feet back from Broadway and twenty-five from 
the side streets. 

The main building will be 1 50 feet long, 42 feet wide, 
four stories high, with a solarium 100x40 feet extending the full 
height of the building at each end facing the south. The utility 
building extends 80 feet to the south and will be 50 feet wide 
and two stories high. This ground plan makes it possible to 
add two large buildings or wings, with one facing East Thir- 
tieth Street and the other East Thirty-first Street. 

The principal facade will face Broadway and will have a 
central pavillion with flanking wings at either side. The 
pavillion extending out 8 feet beyond the main building em- 
phasizes the principal entrance which will be level with the 
ground floor and covered with a beautiful copper Marquise; 
above this, four magnificent monolithic polished granite 

128 



columns twenty feet high, surrounded by Corinthian capitols 
forms a charming loggia; all carrying a gabled attic story. 

The entire first or basement story will be built of beautiful 
pink and green surpentine granite carefully selected for color 
and quality, and will consist of a molded tooled base course, 
rusticated ashler with picked surfaces, and finished with a 
tooled moulded belt or sill course, together forming the base on 
which the superstructure of three stories will be erected of 
slightly varigated light bluff brick laid with raked joints in 
flemish bond and trimmed with cream Terra Cotta quoins, 
cornices, attic stories, parapets, etc. 

The basement or ground story will contain the general 
waiting room, executive offices, staff and nurses' dining rooms. 
The out-department, consisting of a large airy waiting room 
for patients, four doctor's examination rooms, a pharmacy and 
men's and women's toilets; an ambulance receiving room for 
patients with bath and wash slab, adjoining a small fully 
equipped operating room; a doctor's lounging room; a small 
isolated ward with attending nurses' quarters; a locker room 
for patients' clothing; a hydropathic room, and a laboratory 
with general microscopic room; urine analysis room, animal 
room and x-ray with dark room. Two stairways, an electric 
elevator and two electric dumb-waiters will connect with the 
stories above. In the extension will be located the meat and 
milk kitchens arranged for full Kosher service, a fully equipped 
power laundry, an ambulance garage, an autopsy room with 
cooler and undertaker's room. 

The cellar extending under this building and the central 
part of the main building will contain the heating and power 
equipment, coal bins for 200 tons of coal, cold storeroom for 
kitchen supplies, and a storeroom for general supplies. 

A beautiful little chapel will occupy the central portion 
of the first floor and to the right and left, the main men's and 
women's wards will be located, duplicated in arrangement and 

129 



providing a large ward of 12 beds, with windows on three 
sides, a small adjoining ward of 5 beds, a solarium open in 
summer and inclosed in glass in winter, a guest room, an 
examination room equipped with sterilizers, etc., a complete 
service kitchen and toilets with separate bath rooms. The 
second story of the laundry wing will be utilized for the care of 
employees. The third floor, west wing, will contain the 
maternity ward, practically duplicating the ward below with 
an additional delivery room and babies' room. The balance of 
this floor will be reserved for private and semi-private patients 
with 24 beds. In the fourth floor, west wing, will be located 
the children's ward similarly laid out and equipped as those 
below. 

The front center will contain the main operating room 
and accessories, such as sterilizing, instrument, doctors' dressing 
room, nurses' dressing room, wash rooms, etc., and it will be 
equipped complete with all the latest devices for all classes of 
surgical work. It will be two stories in height with a large 
north window and supplementary skylight and will have an 
observation gallery for clinics. Adjoining this large room will 
be a small emergency operating room, also fully equipped. 
The balance of this story will be devoted temporarily to nurses 
and staff quarters, and ultimately used for private patients as 
the institution grows, and a nurses' home is erected. 

The entire building will be constructed of absolutely fire- 
proof materials and every detail has been studied to conform 
to the most modern sanitary practice. All corridor floors will 
be of marble and terraza, ward and room floors of composition, 
and the toilet room floors of tile, all laid directly on the con- 
crete floor construction. There will be no wood trim, all 
angles being covered with a covered sanitary base at the floor. 
The operating room will have a high wainscote of glass or 
marble slabs, and will be the most modern and best equipped 
room in the city. 

130 



The equipment of the building will be complete in every 
detail including over 150 solid porcelain plumbing fixtures, each 
carefully selected for its particular use. 

The heating system w^ill be from power boilers in the 
cellar and will be of the vacuum type; an extra boiler will be 
provided for emergency use; a complete system of steam steril- 
izing will be installed with insurators on each floor and one 
large insurator near the kitchen for garbage. The main kit- 
chens will contain every possible convenience. A fully 
equipped diet or service kitchen with range, steam tables, etc., 
will adjoin each ward and electric automatic controlled dumb- 
waiters will carry the food to these from the main kitchen. A 
modern electric elevator will connect all floors, and also run to 
the roof garden at the top of the building. 

The laundry will contain a large sterilizer of sufficient 
capacity to accommodate mattresses, and a complete power laun- 
dry equipment of 150 bed capacity. The morgue will have a 
mortuary slab, cooler for two bodies, and adjoin a fully 
equipped embalming room. An electric ambulance may be 
taken care of in the garage. 

The lawns will be beautifully laid out with enclosing 
hedges, formal flower gardens, and plantings of rare trees and 
blooming shrubbery. The main approach will be semi-circular 
leading up to a stately entrance ; an automobile parkage will be 
provided on the Thirteenth Avenue side for the doctors' use. 

While no pains have been spared to make the building 
thoroughly practical in plan and economical to maintain, it is 
essentially monumental in character befitting the magnificent 
gift of its donor. 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. 

The officers and directors of Nathan and Miriam Barnert 
Memorial Hospital Association follow: Max Rosen, Presi- 
dent; Henry Marelli, First Vice-President; Gustave Mikola, 



T31 



Second Vice-President; John Kaufman, Treasurer; Abram I. 
Bluestein, Secretary; David Agins, David Atkind, Sigmund 
M. Cohn, John Charney, Phillip Diamond, S. Federbush, 
Jacob Fabian, Samuel Friedlander, Herman Heinrich, Israel 
Horowitz, Herman Haimowicz, Jacob Koteen, Abram Klenert, 
Joseph I. Kassel, Herman B. Kitay, Joseph T. Lieblich, Ar- 
nold Levy, Max Menein, Samuel Neinken, Rabbi Israel 
Rosenberg, Jacob Rosenzw^eig, Morris Scher, Albert H. Slater, 
Louis Spitz, David Yedwab. 

Officers of Ladies' Auxiliary — Mrs. Louis Shnayerson, 
President; Mrs. John Kaufman, Vice-President; Mrs. John 
Marcus, Treasurer; Miss Lillian Weinberg, Secretary. 

CORNERSTONE LAYING OF THE HOSPITAL. 

With impressive masonic ceremonies, the cornerstone of 
the hospital viras laid on Monday afternoon, at three-thirty 
o'clock, October 19, 191 4. It was a day which will long be 
remembered by the people of Paterson, and the distinguished 
visitors, and in particular by Nathan Barnert, who through- 
out the day was hailed as "Paterson's Greatest Philanthropist" 
— "That Grand Old Man" and similar expressions of esteem. 
For forty-seven days the weather had been most ideal with but 
few exceptions until Thursday afternoon, October 15, when 
there was a sudden change and the rain came down in tor- 
rents. It continued raining all of the next day and on Satur- 
day, the weather cleared. The sudden change in weather was 
a source of considerable worry for these in charge of the exten- 
sive arrangements and more so to Mr. Barnert, for he had 
looked forward to this great day for a long time. On Sunday 
there were some bright prospects, but on Monday morning at 
four o'clock, there was a terrific rain, thunder and lightning 
storm. As the day wore on, however, the sun peeped out of 
the clouds at varying intervals, and finally when the cere- 
monies were in full swing, the sky was perfectly clear. 

132 



It was in every way a memorable day for Nathan Barnert. 
Over five thousand marchers, representing every Jewish patrio- 
tic, religious, social, benevolent and charitable organization in 
Paterson, together with 1,500 members of the Masonic frater- 
nity including visitors from every part of New Jersey, paraded 
prior to the ceremonies. The parade started shortly after two 
o'clock. 

The procession formed at the corner of Paterson and 
Market Streets and proceeded down Market Street to Main, to 
Broadway and out to the grounds, at East Thirty-first Street. 
Andrew D. Mason was grand marshal of the procession. 

The parade formation was as follows: 

Escort of Police. 

Dittamo s Band. 

Ex-Mayor Barnert and Police 

Chief John Bimson in open barouche. 

Masonic Fraternity. 

Knight Templars. 

Grand Lodge of Masons. 

FIRST DIVISION. 

Escort of Police. 

Grand Marshal, A. D. Mason. 

Chief Trumpeter, 

Walter J. Andres, Mounted Orderly. 

Aides to Grand Marshal — Robert Slingland, Jacob Levine, A. 

Saltzman, Herman Hertzberg, Louis A. Simon and 

Jacob Koteen. 

Board of Managers — Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 

Hospital Asosciation. 

SECOND DIVISION. 

Dunkerley's Band. 
Uniformed Ranks Jr. O. U. A. M. 



133 



Kearney Council. 

Parker Council. 

Watts Cooke Council. 

Totowa Council. 

Public School No. 9, F. and D. Corps. 

Pupils, Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School. 

THIRD DIVISION. 

De Rosa's Band. 

Independent Order Brith Abraham, 

Silk City Lodge, No. 123. 

A. M. White Lodge. 

Abram Wolf Lodge. 

Paterson Janiveer Lodge. 

Young Men's Hebrew Association and Float. 

Junior Young Men's Hebrew Association. 

Paterson Cadet Band. 

Order Free Sons of Joseph. 

B'Nai Sholom Lodge, No. 14. 

M. S. Joelson Lodge. 

United N. J. Lodge, No. 24, Order of Zion. 

FOURTH DIVISION. 

Junior Continental F. and D. Corps. 

Order Brith Abraham. 

Barnert Lodge, No. 158. 

Paterson City Lodge, No. 102. 

New Paterson Lodge, 405. 

Workingmen's Circle, represented by its eight branches. 

Independent Arbiter Ring. 

One of the most attractive features of the parade con- 
sisted of a delegation of about twenty young women of the Y. 
W. H. A., led by Miss Marie Smith. A blue and white star 



134 



w^as carried in front of their line with streamers of ribbon de- 
sending from it. The young women were dressed in white. 

A banner was next in line, on which was inscribed: "We 
thank Paterson's greatest benefactor." The Miriam Barnert 
Free School banner was carried, Morris Wiener leading this 
delegation. The Young Men's Society followed. Manuel 
Goldberg and H. Scherkowitz led the group carrying the Bar- 
nert Memorial temple design. Pictures of Nathan and Miriam 
Barnert and an American banner were carried. Another ban- 
ner bore the device: ''His many charities." 

A. I. Philipps was at the head of the group representing 
the Barnert Memorial Hospital, followed by Benjamin Jacobs. 
The four carrying the pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Barnert were 
Abe Philipps, Phil Gold, Julius Rose and Jack Summers. At 
the head of this group was George Surosky. Members of the 
Y. M. H. A. carried blue and white flags. 

The members of the Masonic order in line were: Grand 
Master Charles P. Russ, Trenton; Deputy Grand Master Ed- 
ward Searing, Dover; Senior Grand Warden William R. 
Meakle, Paterson; Junior Grand Warden W. M. Thompson, 
Red Bank; Grand Treasurer William F. Burk, Trenton; 
Deputy Grand Secretary T. B. Townley, Trenton; Grand 
Chaplain Rev. Charles Bowden, Camden; Grand Chaplain 
Rev. W. M. Mitchan, Hackettstown ; Senior Grand Deacon 
Mahlon Morey, Elizabeth; Junior Grand Deacon Joseph T. 
Peters, Jersey City; Grand Marshal, William A. Tewes, 
Jersey City; Junior Grand Steward Percie A. Vivarttas, 
Weehawken; Grand Sword Bearer Charles Acorn, Paterson; 
Grand Pursuivant William H. Jones, Newark; Grand Tyler 
Asher Wilson, Trenton. 

District Deputies — Second District, William Herbert 
Lowe, Paterson; Seventh District, Herbert Rorick, Newark; 
Fourteenth District, Frank W. Hampton, Long Branch; 
Fifteenth District, A. C. Reeves, Trenton. 

135 



Committeemen — Finance Committee, Palmer H. Char- 
lock, Elizabeth; John S. Neary, Trenton. Ritual Committee, 
Carl Goetk, Hoboken. Printing Committee, W. A. Schierloch, 
Masonic Home Committee, John Wilkins, Newark; Austin 
Hall MacGregor, Newark. Grand Master's Address Com- 
mittee, Isaac Lowenstein, Newark. Unfinished Business Com- 
mittee, John W. Arniel, New Brunswick. 

Individual Masons — John Gopsill, Jersey City; Richard 
Preston, Jersey City; A. B. LeMassena, Newark; Charles P. 
Sparkman, Paterson; Isaac Cheny, Jr. 

Miss Zurche, Miss Stocker, Miss Jennings, Miss 
Teweles, nurses, and Dr. Rosenbluth, Superintendent, and Dr. 
Herman Levi, doctor at the hospital, rode in an automobile. 

PROGRAM OF EXERCISES. 

Opening — "Star Spangled Banner" Band 

Master of Ceremonies, Bro. Hon. Judge Abram Klenert 

Announcement Hon. Mayor Fordyce 

Ode^ — "Blest be the tie that binds," The Brethren 

Prayer — Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs. 

Reading of Records Deposited and Placing of Cornerstone. 

Ode— "Placed in Form" The Brethren 

Ceremonies — M. W. Grand Master, Charles P. Russ 

Presentation of Trowel to the Most Worshipful Grand 

Master Bro. Jacob Fabian 

Invocation M. W. Grand Master 

Ode— "Thou Who Art God Alone" The Brethren 

Oration — R. W. Bro. Meakle Senior Grand Warden 

Benediction — Grand Chaplain The Rev. W. Mitcham 

Selection Prof. Dittamo's Band 

Address — Bro. Rev. Dr. Julius Silberfeld. 

Ode Hebrew Free School Children 

Address — Bro. Max Rosen. 

(President of Hospital). 

136 



Address Hon. Leon Sanders 

Address Bro. Dr. I. Le Vine 

History Bro. Dr. I. Le Vine (Medical Staff) 

Address Bro. Hon. Nathan Barnert 

Selection — "America" Band 

Closing Prayer Rev. Moses Hyamson 

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES ON THE GROUNDS. 

The Masonic service which was in charge of Paterson- 
Orange Lodge, No. 43, was impressive, the Masonic ritual 
occupying about 45 minutes in its entirety. An interesting 
feature was the singing of the odes, to the accompaniment of 
Dittamo's band and which was joined in by the assemblage. 

Most Worshipful Grand Master Charles P. Russ, of 
Elizabeth, officiated at the ceremonies, prior to which the Grand 
Lodge formed a procession. 

ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER CHARLES P. RUSS. 

''Men and brethren here assembled, be it known unto you 
that we are lawful Masons, true and faithful to the laws of 
our country solemnly engaged to erect magnificent buildings, 
to render service to the craft and to humanity, and above all to 
fear God, the Supreme Architect of the Universe, the great 
builder of worlds and creator of men. 

"We have among us secrets of our art, which may not be 
divulged, but which are reputable and proper and not repug- 
nant to the laws of God or of man. These have been com- 
mitted in faith to our keeping, and it is our duty to transmit 
them in our turn unchanged to those who are to succeed us, 
so that they remain unimpaired to the remotest generation. 

"Unless our craft were good and its calling honorable, it 
could not, by human providence, have existed for so many cen- 
turies, nor would it have been favored with the patronage and 
care of so many virtuous and illustrious men. 

137 



"In the character of the Masons we are gathered here to- 
day before you all to establish the foundation of a house, which, 
we pray God, may become and continue a place for the con- 
course of the wise and the good; wherein justice and love may 
rule the actions of men, and where shall be demonstrated the 
beauty of harmony in all the transactions of daily life." 

The opening number was the "Star Spangled Banner," 
followed by introduction of speakers by Judge Abram Klenert. 

Mayor Fordyce was the first speaker and paid a tribute to 
ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert, declaring that the great outpouring 
of people was an evidence of the esteem and love which this 
community holds for the founder of many enduring monu- 
ments. Mayor Fordyce referred to the noble deeds of 
Miriam Barnert and how since her death this pleasant work of 
charity is being done and carried on by Mr. Barnert. In clos- 
ing, Mayor Fordyce said that the city will benefit by his 
example and be an incentive to all to arise and follow in the 
performance of good deeds. 

The Ode, "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," was then sung, 
followed by prayer, by the first Rabbi of the Nathan Barnert 
Memorial Temple, the Rev. Dr. Abram S. Isaacs. 

The records were then placed in the cornerstone. The 
contents were as follows: 

1. History of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Hospital 
from its beginning as a dispensary, including a copy of the first 
minutes and charter. 

2. Program of exercises of Hebrew Free School Children. 

3. Biography of Hon. Nathan Barnert, up to October 
19, 191 4, including the announcement of the gift for the new 
hospital, history of the Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew 
Free School; history of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Tem- 
ple, with interesting incidents in the life of Mr. Barnert show- 
ing his character and achievements; also communications of 

138 



appreciation from President Woodrow Wilson, the late Presi- 
dent William McKinley and Henry Clews, banker of New 
York City; the first annual message of Nathan Barnert to the 
Board of Aldermen, of the City of Paterson, April i6, 1883, 
following his election as Mayor; a letter of appreciation from 
the late Reverend Dr. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., to Nathan 
Barnert for his generous act in turning over the Barnert Tem- 
ple to the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church, 
which edifice had been destroyed in the big fire of 1902. 

4. Copy of the Deed for the Nathan and Miriam Bar- 
nert Memorial Hospital. 

5. A song of praise in Hebrew by John Charney. 

6. The Hebrew Name of the Deity. 

7. Abbreviated sentences of the Psalms of David in 
Hebrew, artistically arranged on Parchment by Meyer Neu- 
field, of Posen, Germany, about seventy-five years ago. 

8. Correspondence of Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, 
F. and A. M. 

9. Rosters of Cataract City Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M., 
1897-1914. 

10. An acrostic of Biblical names by Jane Jacobson, 
niece of Nathan Barnert. 

11. Program of the last concert for the benefit of the 
hospital, containing a description of the institution. 

12. The last annual report of the Miriam Barnert 
Memorial Hebrew Free School Association. 

13. Photograph of the Nathan Barnert Memorial 
Temple. 

14. The program of exercises at the laying of the corner- 
stone of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, 
October 19, 1914. 

15. A letter of thanks from the Publicity Committee to 
Michael T. Baum, City Editor of the "Evening News," 

139 



through whose kindness the committee were able to accomplish 
the desired results. 

1 6. Copies of Paterson newspapers. 

17. A short history of Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, 
F. and A. M., since its inception and written by Past Master 
Edward Livingston. 

18. Photographs of Nathan and Miriam Barnert. 
Photographs of officers of Paterson-Orange Lodge, list of 

past masters of the lodge. 

Report of the Grand Lodge proceedings, 1914- 

PRESENTATION OF TROWEL. 

Jacob Fabian, chairman of the building committee, pre- 
sented the trowel to the Grand Master in the following 
language : 

''Most Worshipful Grand Master, on behalf of the Build- 
ing Committee of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
Hospital Association, I am honored in being asked to present to 
you the trowel which is necessary in order to perform the cere- 
monies properly. We gather here to place in proper position 
under your direction and with your co-operation the corner- 
stone of this building, which has been donated to the people of 
the city of Paterson by our Brother, the Honorable Nathan 
Barnert. Our Dear Brother Barnert and members of the 
Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Association 
view this day with great pride and are glad that they are par- 
ticipating in honoring you. Most Worshipful Sir, to perform 
the ceremonies and laying the cornerstone of this building. I 
take pleasure in presenting you with this trowel so you may 
spread the cement — not alone which will unite this building in 
one compact mass, but also the cement of brotherly love and 
affection regardless of race, creed or religion." 

140 



ORATION BY SENIOR GRAND WARDEN, WILLIAM R. MEAKLE. 

How many citizens of Paterson fully appreciate the noble 
men and women who have from time to time, out of their big 
hearts, generous instincts, and open purses, contributed so much 
to our happiness, to human uplift generally, as well as to the 
amelioration of conditions that sometimes surround the humble 
and the lowly? It would be an injustice to our people as a 
whole to intimate that they fail utterly to appreciate the great 
and the good things that are done in their behalf by the chari- 
tably disposed, for such is not the case. We should pause occa- 
sionally, however, to consider the many benefactions with which 
we have been blessed; not only to prove with what thankful 
spirit they have been received, but also that others may be 
encouraged to "go and do likewise." 

To attempt to name or to number the very long honor roll 
of generous men and women of this city whose memories will 
be revered by all posterity because of their works, would be 
impossible now; first, because the time at my disposal is all too 
limited in which to do justice to so large a subject, and 
secondly, because of the length of the list I might Inadvertantly 
overlook some of them. 

We are gathered here to-day to lay the cornerstone of a 
hospital in which the ablest of physicians and nurses will minis- 
ter to the sick and will use their best endeavors to restore them 
to health and vigor. This building, at its full completion, will 
be admirably adapted to all the purposes intended ; and the gift 
to the people of Paterson, without respect to creed or religion, 
race or color, of our highly honored, much respected citizen and 
Brother Mason, the Honorable Nathan Barnert, a former 
Mayor of this city, a man and a Mason In all that the words 
Imply, and one who through all the years of his long business 
and public life has held the esteem of all good citizens. 

What has actuated him to confer upon us this great bless- 
ing Is more than I know. Perhaps he has adapted the language 

141 



of Virgil to the situation, wherein he said: **Being myself no 
stranger to suffering, I have learned to relieve the suffering of 
others." For it is no secret that our friend and Brother has 
not enjoyed the best of health for some time. 

Notwithstanding, this building will be a magnificent struc- 
ture, and a handsome gift. The donor has long ago betrayed 
that spirit of magnanimity which has culminated, in the sunset of 
his life, in this great work, by erecting other, and equally en- 
during monuments to the memory of his dearly beloved wife, 
for which our people honor him, and for which posterity will 
always bless him. On this very street are two such buildings, 
each the best of its kind, and each erected and dedicated to her 
who was his best friend, his counselor, and devoted help- 
mate, the late Miriam Barnert. The first, a Free School where 
children reared in the Hebrew faith are educated; the second, 
a Synagogue where orthodox Hebrews may worship Jehovah. 
Our people, irrespective of their religious beliefs, have a 
very warm spot in their hearts toward the Synagogue, for 
we well remember when Paterson was devastated by a 
great fire, and many churches were burned, the Synagogue 
was thrown open to Christians who for a long time worshipped 
the Christ of their faith under the same roof where the Hebrew 
worshipped the Jehovah of his. Brother Barnert had much to 
do with this arrangement, and I cite the incident only to show 
that with his generosity he combines the quality of delightful 
broadmindedness. Doubt has been expressed if history records 
a previous instance of Gentile and Jew worshipping in the same 
synagogue. Be that as it may, this gentle courtesy of the He- 
brews toward Christians in distress is but an additional proof 
that the form of one's religion is of small moment ; it is the end 
in view that counts. The mode of attaining it should make us 
brothers here below, for we all look forward to the same habi- 
tat beyond the grave, where there will be no distinction of race 



142 



or religion, where peace and joy shall reign throughout eternity, 
and where all shall be known as children of one Father, God. 

"We meet at one gate 
When all's over. The ways they are many and wide, 

And seldom are two days the same. Side by side. 
Maj'- we stand at the same little door when all's done! 

The ways they are many, the end it is one." 

Shakespeare said of men. "Some are born great, some 
achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." 

Brother Barnert was neither born great, nor had he great- 
ness thrust upon him, but clearly he has achieved it. Yet he 
wears the mantle of his greatness with most becoming modesty. 
Honored, respected, beloved, ripe in a rich experience aug- 
mented constantly through his accumulating, crowding, crown- 
ing years, let us indulge the hope that he may have still before 
him in this world much of life, during which may it be his por- 
tion to see the many labors of his love come into the fullest of 
flower, and bloom to the joy and happiness of all humanity! 

In laying this cornerstone to-day the Grand Lodge of 
Masons discharges a very pleasant task. In ancient times Free- 
masons were concerned only with the erection of material edi- 
fices, to which numberless massive and beautiful buildings, that 
still endure in many European countries, amply testify. 

The scope of Freemasonry has been broadened in compara- 
tively recent years so that to-day members of the Craft are 
engaged in building honor, character, integrity, and righteous 
living into the human structure, to the elevation and enrich- 
ment of our species. The tools of the ancient Craftsman are 
still used to "teach, symbolically many great and wholesome 
truths. The twenty- four inch gauge, the common gavel, the 
plumb, the level, the square, and the trowel, may all be found 
in our lodge rooms, and each points a most salutary lesson. 
The plumb, for instance, with which the operative mason tests 
perpendiculars, admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several 

143 



stations before God and man. Again, the trowel, which 
spreads the cement that unites a building into one common 
mass, teaches us, by its symbolism, to spread the cement of 
brotherly love and affection, to labor in harmony, and to avoid 
dissension. It is not such a far cry, therefore, from the Specu- 
lative Masonry of to-day to the Operative Masonry of our 
forebears; from the symbolic edifice to the material. 

Kindness and condescension, faith, hope, charity boundless 
as the universe, brotherly love, relief, and truth, are but a few 
of our tenets, and these and many more it is our ever present 
wish and aim to inculcate. 

How singularly appropriate it seems that the Masonic 
Fraternity should lay the cornerstone of a hospital! By this 
very act we have already built into its foundation those prin- 
ciples for which Freemasonry stands, not the least of which are 
charity and relief. As these four walls shoulder by degrees 
toward the sky, the square of rectitude, of honor, of fair deal- 
ing, of virtue, and of righteousness, will be constantly at the 
right hand of the artisan. The level which he will use to test 
the accuracy of his work suggests to us the immortality of the 
soul, and the life to come. We cannot long abide here, and 
we are taught to hold eternity ever in view. But dissolution 
holds no terrors for the true Freemason, nor is he disconcerted 
by the inevitability of its approach, for Masonry teaches a sub- 
lime and unfaltering faith in God, and the desirability of full 
preparedness for the hereafter. 

The Scriptural text, "Fear God and keep his command- 
ments; for this is the whole duty of man," sums up in a brief 
sentence a Mason's obligatory commitments. To spread this 
doctrine is the purpose of Freemasonry. Its success in the past 
is attested by thousands of years of existence and honorable 
history. If its principles continue to be held as sacredly and 
inviolably in the future as they have been in the past, its 

144 



influence will be felt wherever civilization extends until time 
shall be no more. 

ADDRESS OF DR. SILBERFELD. 

Rev. Dr. Julius Silberfeld, of Newark, arose and delivered 
a most interesting address, lauding former Mayor Barnert for 
the princely gift which made the hospital possible. "Charity," 
he said, "is greater than mercy, for charity can be given to the 
poor only and the needy, whereas mercy can also be given to 
the rich and those who do not need it. It is a grand thought 
that in, these days of war and horror, there remain those who 
are humane and generous. While the nations are slaughtering 
each other, our Nathan Barnerts are doing good and continue 
to minister to the needy. Such an institution as this will stand 
as a perpetual monument to the donor." 

The school children of the Miriam Barnert Memorial 
Hebrew Free School at this point sang odes and psalms. 

MR. ROSEN^S ADDRESS. 

Mr. Max Rosen, president of the Hospital Association, 
made the following address: 

"Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is 
with a feeling of the deepest humility that I undertake to stand 
up here before this august and distinguished gathering on such 
an auspicious occasion. After hearing such prominent and able 
speakers, what can I say? You have heard words of praise 
heaped on Nathan Barnert, whose wonderful philanthropies 
embrace Jew and Gentile alike, and whose public spirit has 
been manifested on all occasions and whose most useful life is 
an inspiration to us all. 

"It would be a blessing for this cornmunity, if all were like 
him, for there would be peace and love and perfect humility. 
It is indeed fortunate for our community to be blessed with a 
Nathan Barnert who has the heart and the means to devote 



145 



and spread his good works for the building of a hospital, where 
can be treated alike, Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich 
and poor, and yet his unsurpassed philanthropy entails a great 
responsibility upon us. What are we going to do with this 
magnificent institution when built? We are willing to con- 
tribute our share so as to make it a credit to our city and an 
honor to our State." Mr. Rosen closed with a further appeal, 
and on conclusion of his address was presented with a beautiful 
bouquet of flowers, the gift of the employes of the silk firm of 
J. Rosen & Son. 

ADDRESS OF JUDGE SANDERS. 

Judge Leon Sanders, of New York, brought greetings and 
congratulations from his home city. "On this day when you 
have laid the cornerstone of what will be the grandest hos- 
pital in the State of New Jersey," he said, "I cannot forget the 
covenant made in New York many, many years ago. When 
the first band of Jewish refugees landed on our shores 258 
years ago, Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam, re- 
fused to permit them to land, and they said, 'Don't send us 
back, we have no place to go to, but to go and throw ourselves 
into the ocean.' Governor Stuyvesant made them sign a con- 
tract, the terms of which were agreed to, that they would look 
after their own poor, their own sick and bury their own dead. 
That contract was legally and morally binding on our ances- 
tors, is binding on their descendants and our successors. We 
have established hospitals for the healing of the sick for all who 
may come, regardless of faith or creed. Having the contract 
in mind, we have established Jewish orphan asylums, we have 
established homes for the aged and infirm. Having the con- 
tract in mind, we have established other institutions and have 
maintained them, so that he who enters does so with new hope 
and good will. I, as a citizen, come here to pay my respects. 
I am glad to come here and pay that tribute to your city and 

146 



to that grand old man. All honor, all credit to that man 
whose life is being spent in establishing charitable institutions, 
and may he enjoy the pleasure of his acts for many years to 
come, a life which is full of hope and courage, of love and devo- 
tion to the memory of that noble woman who was his helpmate 
and life partner. I congratulate the city of Paterson, that it 
can boast of such a citizen. He has established kindergartens, 
a synagogue and a hospital. I hope the Great Father will 
grant him many years of life so that he may be able to establish 
other charities as the people may require." 

DR. LE VINE READS HISTORY. 

Dr. Israel Le Vine, of the medical stafE, one of the 
original founders of the dispensary, delivered an interesting 
history of the institution and told of the trials and tribulations 
encountered in the building. He closed by congratulating the 
public and paid a tribute to Nathan Barnert. 

ADDRESS OF EX-MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT. 

"Mr. Chairman, friends and societies, I do not propose to 
take up much of your time in speaking. Deeds speak more 
than words. I am glad to be able to accomplish some good. 

Those assisting in this great and glorious work of caring 
for the sick, it is conceded, are doing a most worthy work. To 
you, in charge, the gratifying spectacle of so large a turn-out is 
due, and to you, Right Worshipful Grand Master of Free and 
Accepted Masons of New Jersey, with your good offices, Pater- 
son-Orange Lodge, No. 43, and sojourning brethren, I extend a 
right royal welcome greeting. 

May no injury Hefall the builders ; may we witness the 
completion and dedication, and may God's blessing be upon 
this undertaking." 

147 



The band then played "America," the assemblage joining 
led the closing prayer, 
in the singing. The Rev. Moses Hyamson, of New York, 

BANQUET IN THE MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW 
FREE SCHOOL. 

It was well toward seven o'clock and the guests had about 
all assembled when former Mayor Nathan Barnert, accom- 
panied by Chief of Police John Bimson appeared. Every man 
rose and cheered him until he had taken his place at the head of 
the table, while the band played ''The Star Spangled Banner." 
Following him came Mayor Robert H. Fordyce, who was 
also vigorously cheered and Judge Abram Klenert, who re- 
ceived the same attention. Henry Marelli, the toastmaster of 
the evening, sat at Mr. Barnert's right and Chief of Police 
Bimson at his left. Those at the speakers' table were ex- 
Mayor Nathan Barnert, Mayor Robert H. Fordyce, Judge 
Abram Klenert, William R. Meakle, Rabbi Julius Silberfeld, 
of Newark; Max Rosen, Theodore B. Townley, Chief of 
Police John Bimson, Henry Marelli, Charles P. Russ, Edward 
M. Searing, Mayor George N. Seger, of Passaic. 

The decorations were autumn leaves and around the lights 
the Masonic insignia. The menu follows: 

Martini cocktail, grape fruit, Marachino cherry; fish, 
Kennebec salmon, Mayonaise dressing, Holland potatoes; 
relishes, celery. Queen olives, radishes, tomato salad; soup, 
chicken, Hungarian goulash ; roast, spring chicken, French peas ; 
dessert, assorted pies, ices, coffee noir, beer, seltzer, cigars "Que 
Placer/* 

CONGRATULATIONS. 

When the last course had been served, Mr. Henry 
Marelli, as toastmaster, opened the post prandial exercises. 
First he read regrets from a great number of prominent men 

148 



who had been invited, but were unable to be present. The 
same congratulatory note was breathed through all these mes- 
sages and all bespoke for former Mayor Barnert, a long life to 
come of usefulness and helpfulness to the community. One of 
the most notable was the one from the Hebrew Shelter and 
Immigration Aid Society. 

Mr. Marelli opened the speechmaking by pointing out 
that the day had been unexpectedly enjoyable. First, as to the 
parade, he asked what could have been better. Next, the 
ceremony. It was so impressive and beneficial that its influence 
must have been helpful to all who came within the circle of the 
voices of the speakers. And lastly, the dinner. It was all a 
tribute to the worth of the former mayor and it was a tribute 
which was deserved, otherwise it would not have been given. 
The people of these times are not given to honoring men who 
do not deserve it, and this outpouring of fellow citizens demon- 
strates that the respect which men earn by their good deeds is 
given to them, even more freely than ever before. He added 
that Mr. Barnert will not be remembered by his charitable 
deeds alone, but that he made a splendid record when he was 
mayor of the city, that as such he had been incorruptible and 
fulfilled his duties without regard to political alliances or 
results to himself. 

The first speaker called upon was Mr. Max Rosen, presi- 
dent of the Hospital Association. He went over the ground 
briefly that he had covered in the afternoon and then made an 
eloquent plea for liberal support of the institution, pointing 
out the great good it will do in the community, and expressing 
the hope that it will always appeal to Paterson as strongly as it 
did yesterday. He told of the munificent gifts which Mr. Bar- 
nert has made, but pointed to this as the most liberal of all, 
and most calculated to be beneficial to the people of the city. 
Mr. Barnert then arose and said he hoped that all those at the 
cornerstone laying with many more, would be present at the 

149 



dedication when he assured them even more impressive exer- 
cises would follow. He closed by saying that Rabbi Moses 
Hyamson was in the audience and he would like him intro- 
duced to the audience. 

The toastmaster then introduced him formally, saying 
that he had not been long in this country and that the gather- 
ing would be glad to hear a few words from him. 

Rabbi Hyamson said that this had indeed been a great 
day, for the city, and for the Jewish people in the city. He 
analyzed the word "hospital," saying that it is a word with 
pathetic associations and that to the average mind it suggests 
human suffering and ills such as all fiesh is heir to. The word 
hospital, he said, means house of God, and truly a place of 
healing is a house of God, for it brings comfort to those who 
are racked with pain and suffering. He said the hospital 
which has been founded will be a perpetual memorial to the 
great philanthropist who made it possible. He said the 
foundation of this hospital has two aspects, one being that it is 
absolutely undenominational and that it will be open for all 
sufferers regardless of religion or creed. 

PUBLIC INSTITUTION. 

The only credentials for admission to it are suffering and 
sickness. And yet, at the same time, said the rabbi, the Jewish 
people can claim that it is a Jewish institution and he urged 
his co-religionists to see to it that at this hospital people of 
Jewish faith have their religious scruples regarding diet strictly 
respected in order that during their suffering and agony they 
be relieved of any burden of conscience so far as their religious 
scruples are concerned. Rabbi Hyemson said that unconsci- 
ously ex-Mayor Barnert had established three institutions 
which help to make the three pillars that hold up the world — 
scholarship, worship and philanthropy, for he erected first a 
school, then a place of worship and finally he has added a hos- 

150 



pital. The rabbi insisted again that the Jewish diet might be 
provided at the hospital, as much for the health of the patients 
as for religious beliefs. 

GRAND MASTER SPEAKS. 

The next was a brief congratulatory address by Grand 
Master of Masons, Mr. Charles P. Russ, after which, led by 
Dittamo's band, practically every one joined in another parade 
to the Armory to see the exposition. At the Armory the pa- 
raders, with the band still in the lead, circled the hall, then they 
all separated into groups and saw the exposition. Those 
present at the banquet were William Herbert Lowe, August B. 
Finkel, Isaac Coburn, William H. Gee, Robert Kimboch, Wil- 
liam Brameld, Charles C. Scott, Edward Livingston, William 
Elliot, R. Rosenbluth, W. Clarence Solomon, John Milligan, 
Harry J. Coyerata, Hoboken; C. J. Simoni, Hoboken; G. Pit- 
tis, Ridgewood; Charles W. Hanleys, Dr. Joseph Schapiro, 
Dr. William Veenstra, Dr. J. J. Greengrass, Dr. D. H. Men- 
delsohn, Dr. B. C. Magennis, Bernard Freimark, John G. 
Gopsill, Charles P. Sparkman, George W. Parker, W. F. J. 
White, Albert H. Slater, Dr. William Spicker, Dr. Walter 
M. Winter, Dr. Jacob Roemer, Dr. Vigna, Dr. Thomas A. 
Dingman, Dr. Leo Joffe, Dr. C. Gutz, H. C. Rorick, Isaac 
Silverstein, Harry B. Haines, Dr. Cyril Barnert, Samuel 
Jacobs, Bernhard Meyerowitz, Arnold Levy, Thomas Bottom- 
ley, David G. Smith, George S. Hilton, N. M. Townley, Jr., 
Dr. Shnayerson, Dr. I. Le Vine, Dr. I. Feigenoff, M. S. King, 
Fred W. Wentworth, W. B. Bryant, A. D. Mason, Abe 
Kaufman, A. L. Simon, Isadore Simon, Michael T. Baum, 
Jules C. Levine, Albert Rhodes, Pierce Rosenthal, Philip 
Drosky, Isaac Wollenberg, John Reid Morris, John R. Wilson, 
James T. Taylor, John Grossgebauer, Herman Hertzberg, 
Morris Goldberg, Jacob Rosen, Harry E. Rosen, W. H. Kap- 
lander, Samuel Schamash, Jacob H. Levin, Abe Wolf, C. H. 

151 



Roth, J. H. Cook, Stuart Kay, John Little, J. Silver, Dr. 
Gordon G. Walton, H. J. White, William H. Jones, 
P. H. Charwek, Abe Schwalbe, George Lewin, A. Salz- 
mair, J. Wolf, George Harris, S. M. Schwartz, Henry 
L. Berdan, Burton H. Allbee, Rev. Carlo P. Alterelli, 
Charles Acorn, James T. MacDonald, William E. Eaton, 
Joseph, Rugby, Richard H. Brammeld, George Greenhalgh, 
Henry Carnation, Andrew^ B. Young, William Raupin, Joseph 
Starrs, William H. Spears, William H. Brammeld, Joseph 
Kreelaussy, Nat King, John Ritter, Archie Rose, Harry Braver- 
man, Morris Wiener, Boas Barnert, Rev. A. H. Longley, 
Thomas Rogers, W. M. Mitchen, Richard Preston, Charles 
W. Feeney, William A. Schierlah, Judge Carrington Cabell, 
George S. O'Neill, Philip Diamond, I. Horwitz, J. Koteen, 
Louis Spitz, S. Federbush, H. Haimov^^icz, Jacob Fabian, H. 
B. Kitay, Rev. M. Hyamson, M. Scher, Abram Bluestein, 
Samuel Friedlander, David Agins, Sigmund M. Cohn, John 
Charney, Jacob Rosenzweig, Samuel Neinken, Gustave Mik- 
ola. Max Menein, David Yedwab, Joseph Lieblich, Washing- 
ton R. Cook, Frank Sweetman, Robert Walker, Joseph L 
Kassel, John Kaufman, Sergeant Charles F. Sautter, Patrolmen 
Romary, Sweetman, Graham, Garrison, Weeder, Bunce, Van- 
derbok, Rickenbach, Arnold, Cook, Walker and Keating. 

COMMITTEES. 

Arrangements — Max Rosen, Chairman; Abram L Blue- 
stein, Secretary; David Agins, David Atkind, S. M. Cohn, 
Arnold Levy, Henry Marelli, John Charney, P. Diamond, 
Sendor Federbush, Jacob Fabian, S. Friedlander, H. Heinrich, 
L Horowitz, H. Haimowicz, J. Koteen, John Kaufman, Judge 
Abram Klenert, J. L Kassel, H. B. Kitay, J. Lieblich, M. 
Menein, J. Mikola, S. Neinken, Rabbi L Rosenberg, J. 
Rosenzweig. 

152 



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Reception — Max Menein, Chairman; M. Scher, S. Feder- 
bush, H. Haimowicz and I. Horowitz. 

Publicity — A. H. Slater, chairman; Louis Spitz, Arnold 
Levy, Jacob Fabian and Henry Marelli. 

Speakers — Ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert, chairman; Jacob 
Fabian, H. Haimowicz, Samuel Friedlander, Henry Marelli 
and Joseph Lieblich. 

Program — Joseph Kassel, Chairman; Henry Marelli, 
Louis Spitz, Joseph Lieblich and Max Rosen. 

COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF MASONIC SERVICE. j 

To take charge of the Masonic services during the laying 
of the cornerstone, a special committee was appointed, from 
Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, F. and A. M., by Master B. 
Freimark. The committee was composed of the following mem- 
bers: 

John Bimson, P. M., Chairman; Andrew D. Mason, P. 
M.; Edward Livingston, P. M.; Andrew B. Young, P. M.; 
W. Brammeld, W. H. 'Brammeld, William H. Speirs, W. 
Elliott, Secretary; David B. Smith, Jacob Fabian, A. H. 
Slater, Jacob Silver, John Ritter, Thomas Bottomly, Joseph 
Krulan. 



153 



THE HEBREW LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. 

The Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society with which 
Miriam Barnert was actively connected for eighteen years, hav- 
ing been its first president, and serving in that capacity from 
1883 until 1 90 1, is a power for good in Paterson. The society 
has had a most interesting history. 

On December 5, 1883, the wives of the members of the 
congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, — Barnert Memorial Temple — 
touched by the sufferings of the poor, held a meeting in the 
vestry rooms of the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun — then 
located on Van Houten Street, and discussed plans tending 
toward the amelioration of the conditions of the city's unfor- 
tunates. That winter was an especially hard one for the poor 
and worthy, but the noble women without outside help, and 
without making a public appeal for subscriptions went to work 
undaunted, and, encouraged by their success, decided to create a 
permanent organization. 

It was but natural that the honor of being its first presi- 
dent should be bestowed upon one whose untiring efforts in 
behalf of humanity were then generally praised, a woman who 
was doing splendid work in all spheres of philanthropic ac- 
tivity. And this mantel fell upon the shoulders of Miriam 
Barnert. It was during the first administration of Mayor 
Nathan Barnert the society had its impetus and inception. Mr. 
Barnert had been elected in April of that year, and his acts, 
coupled with the sterling love of his wife, in a large measure 
encouraged and spurred the charitably inclined women to re- 
lieve the sufferings of the poor. When Mayor Barnert don- 
ated the property at the corner of Broadway and Straight 
Street, to the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, it was stipulated 
that rooms be reserved for the society. Since then the work 



155 



of mercy has gone on unceasingly, directed from that Temple 
of God. 

Mrs. Barnert proved to be a tireless worker. She radi- 
ated sunshine and good cheer. Through all the discourage- 
ments and in the darkening hours, her magnetic personality 
dominated, and she urged all to ''do and dare." She per- 
formed her work faithfully and when she was stricken and re- 
moved from the ranks and sent on her way to that reward 
which is meted out to all good souls, there was sadness in the 
ranks. Miriam Barnert's lesson of perseverence, however, had 
well been assimilated, and although that noble woman was not 
present in the material sense, spiritually, the memory of her 
splendid endeavors held all, and even today, Miriam Barnert's 
magnificent personality still lingers and pervades the meeting 
room. 

Mrs. Barnert was succeeded by Mrs. Jane Cohen, who 
held that position until the election of Mrs. George Feder, of 
Passaic, who served for two years. In 1903, Mrs. Jennie 
Cohen was elected president, a position she Is still occupying 
with considerable executive ability. 

The society since its organization has increased in mem- 
bership from a list of seventeen to an enrollment of over two 
hundred. Other officers In addition to Mrs. Barnert on the 
inception of the organization were Mrs. Jennie Cohen, Vice- 
President ; Mrs. George Feder, Treasurer, and the late Mrs. A. 
L. Schwartz, Secretary. 

From time to time, as the stress of the needy Increased, It 
became necessary for the society to devise other means of rais- 
ing funds, the annual dues proving insufficient to administer as 
effectually and expeditiously as the cases warranted. Among 
the various means resorted to for raising funds were balls, con- 
certs, strawberry festivals, fairs, card parties and performances, 
each one with most gratifying results. 

156 



In 1908 the association appropriately celebrated their 
twenty-fifth anniversary with a social gathering at the society's 
rooms, at which time six charter members were present, namely, 
Mrs. Jacob Levy, Mrs. Morris Feder, Mrs. Marcus Cohn, 
Mrs. Jane Cohen, Mrs. Henry Nathan and Mrs. Tennie Dia- 
mond. 

The work of the society is conducted quietly and without 
any ostentatious show. There are no public appeals for sub- 
scriptions, the source of income being from card parties and 
other forms of entertainment. The good sisters of mercy can 
well be proud of their work. Great are conventions to con- 
sider all kinds of reform, but the men and women who are 
doing most for the poor, are almost none of them in conven- 
tions, but are handpickers at work in the slums and among the 
destitute. There are such men and women whose names are 
never in the newspapers, who know where the poor live and 
where the orphan children are. They are everywhere present 
where help is needed. 

The present officers are: Mrs. Jennie Cohen, President; 
Mrs. Charles Elbow, Vice-President; Mrs. Pauline Levine, 
Treasurer, and Mrs. Tennie Diamond, Secretary. 



157 



JEPHTHA LODGE, NO. 143, INDEPENDENT ORDER 
OF B'NAI BRITH. 

All those who are members of the Independent Order of 
B'Nai Brith — considered the most powerful agency in exist- 
ence for the protection of Jews — have a just cause to feel a 
pardonable pride in the work it has achieved in an extensive 
field of endeavor. It could, with honor, rest upon what has 
already been accomplished, but the Order is not content to do 
this for the meml)ers are aware that there are serious problems 
still to be solved. They have set their determination on meet- 
ing these difficulties and contentions face to face, fearlessly and 
unselfishly, with the end in view of the moral, physical and 
intellectual advancement of world-wide Jewry. 

In every land can be found workers in this splendid cause 
— men and women — whose noble fidelity have been shining 
beacons of encouragement to the down-trodden, the oppressed 
and poor, the sick and needy. Just such a band of loyal Jews 
can be found in Paterson, their various activities being ex- 
pressed and finding outlet in all fields of local endeavor. 

Jephtha Lodge, No. 143, was organized on May 15, 1870, 
with thirty members. The first meetings were held in the 
Grand Army, or Washington Hall, Fair and Washington 
Streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1890. Three charter 
members are still living — Nathan Barnert, Alexander Simon 
and Bernard Katz. Among other old members are I. H. 
Levine, who joined the local lodge in 1879, and who was at 
one time president and is now its secretary; William Kaliski, 
and Julius Solomon and Albert Leipsinger, of New York City. 
No. 143 is the only local in Passaic County and is a member of 
District No. 3, composed of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dela- 
ware and West Virginia numbering a total of 150 lodges. 



159 



The principal object of the B'Nai Brith is to assist Jewish 
widows and orphans. Only recently the local lodge contrib- 
uted $120 to the war sufferers. There is at this writing a 
campaign on to raise about half a million dollars to this fund 
in this country alone. District No. 3, is at the present time 
erecting a $200,000 Orphan Asylum in Erie, Pennsylvania, an 
institution, which dedicated in the summer of 191 4j will be 
completed in 1916. At that time, the district convention will 
be held in Erie, and Paterson members of the order will par- 
ticipate in the joyous celebration, as they have aided in the 
raising of this magnificent building fund. 

EX-PRESIDENT TAFT's TRIBUTE. 

* * * "I have known the B'Nai Brith for many years, for 
its good work, for the social opportunities that it gives, and as a 
model Jewish society. And when I say a model Jewish society, 
I mean a society that may be a model for all societies. If, in 
what I have said, I have conveyed to you my high appreciation 
of the people you represent — the oldest people in the world — 
the people that is entitled really to be the aristocrats of the 
world, and yet who make the best Republicans — I have suc- 
ceeded in what I hoped to do." 

A PATRIOTIC UNDERTAKING. 
EDITORIAL, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER. 

A real service for Jewish Immigrants is planned by the 
National Organization, the B'Nai Brith, whose convention at 
Washington appointed a committee to formulate plans for 
ameliorating the living conditions of new arrivals in this coun- 
try and to encourage their settlement away from the congested 
centers of population. 

This is the task assumed by the B'Nai Brith on behalf of 
the Jewish immigrant. It is a patriotic duty, the successful 

160 



performance of which will entitle that organization to the 
thanks of all people. 

THE order's activities. 

It presented to the people of the United States a statue of 
religious liberty in Philadelphia. 

It induced our government to act during the persecution of 
the Jews in Roumania. 

It secured the intervention of the United States govern- 
ment in support of the universal protest against the Kischineff 
massacre. 

It caused to be made known to the Russian government, 
through Count de Witte, the sentiments of the American peo- 
ple concerning the persecution of the Jews. 

It has awakened public conscience, aroused official activity, 
and secured important legislation against the "White Slave 
Traffic." 

It is conducting a vigorous and effective campaign against 
the caricature of the Jew on the American stage. 

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INDEPENDENT 
ORDER OF b'nAI BRITH. 

The Independent Order of B'Nai Brith has taken upon 
itself the mission of uniting Israelites in the work of promoting 
their highest interests and those of humanity; of developing 
and elevating the mental and moral character of the people of 
our faith; of inculcating the purest principles of philanthropy, 
honor and patriotism; of supporting science and art; alleviat- 
ing the wants of the poor and needy ; visiting and attending the 
sick; coming to the rescue of victims of persecution; providing 
for, protecting and assisting the widow and orphan on the 
broadest principles of humanity. 

i6i 



HENRY JONES. 
FOUNDER OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF b'nAI BRITH. 

"If you believe that your becoming a member will advance 
yo'uT position in civil or social life you w^ill be disappointed. If 
your early training has been such that you cannot forget every 
distinction which position and wealth, intellect and education 
create between man and man, then renounce at once your 
desire of joining our brotherhood. 

Be careful and examine yourself and know whether you 
have sufficient strength of character, human love and patience 
to redeem a fallen brother by the ties alone to which you swear 
allegiance. 

The character of our obligation is such that of necessity 
the brother of the covenant can find in our Temple nothing less 
than a band of men possessing the Divine endowment of self- 
sacrifice." 

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, JEPHTHA LODGE LODGE, NO. 1 43. 

Jacob Fabian, President; Morris Rhodes, Vice-Presi- 
dent; I. H. Levine, Secretary; Herman Heinrichs, Treasurer; 
Bernard Klingbeil, Warden; Hugo Munzer, Guardian; 
Nathan Barnert, Boas Barnert, Bernard Katz, Julius Solomon, 
William Kaliski, A. Leipsiger, A. Simon, Meyer Barnert, H. 
B. Kitay, Dr. Leo Mannheimer, Henry Goldstein, S. Fried- 
lander, A. H. Slater, A. Schwartz, M. A. Barth, Sender 
Federbush, L. Gottleib, Elias Goldstein, A. Altschuler, M. 
Altschuler, I. Hirschberg, Joseph Jacobsohn, I. Basch, Samuel 
Jacobs, A. Einhorn, M. Harris, Judge Abram Klenert, S. 
Kurtz, H. Bersh, Israel Le Vine, M. D., I. Horowitz, Louis 
Spitz, Jacob Konner, David Gordon, M. Bernstein, Benjamin 
L. Stein, Max Rosen, Harry Joelson, Max Gold, Gustav 
Mikola, E. Fuld, Max Stam, Louis Urdang, Phillip Diamond, 
Meyer Levine, H. Haimowicz, I. Jacobs, M. Steinberg, Joseph 
T. Lieblich and Joseph C. Price. 

162 



PATERSON HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION. 

One of the most unique organizations in Paterson, com- 
posed of a body of men who have done valiant work quietly 
and unostentatiously, is the Paterson Hebrew Free Loan 
Association. As its name implies, this society has been formed 
to distribute loans to worthy persons in need of aid and in this 
way obviating the necessity of giving and receiving charity. 

The association was formed in May, igoo, with a capital 
of $200 donated by members of the Board of Directors. The 
meetings were held in the homes of members until six years ago 
when the association located in its permanent home in the Mir- 
iam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School building on 
Broadway. 

The Hebrew Free Loan Association is a unique body 
inasmuch as no interest is charged on loans, the money being 
distributed to worthy persons. 

The purposes of the association as outlined by its founders 
during all these years have never been lost sight of. They are : 

(i). To keep the door of hope open for all who need 
encouragement. 

(2). To help them regain their better-self. 

(3). To assist them to do better in the future than they 
have done in the past. 

(4). To teach them to do business with this association 
by borrowing as much as they need, and who can afford to loan, 
by repaying in installments as soon as they are able to do so. 

(5). To obviate the necessity of giving and receiving 
charity. 

"Encouragement" is the one word that will describe most 
fully the work that this institution endeavors to do. Often an 
individual must suffer for his own misdeeds, sometimes he may 

163 



have to suffer from circumstances that he cannot be held 
responsible for. The world is frequently hard on those who 
will not progress. This institution lends a guiding hand. It 
helps that man to gird up his loins until a way for advancement 
is opened. 

And this is done without sacrifice to that particular man's 
self-respect. 

During its existence the association has loaned about 
$50,000 and how faithful has been Its trust, can be noted from 
the fact that in all these years the society has practically not lost 
one cent, and at the present time has over 250 borrowers on its 
list. There is now a handsome total of $7,500 working capital 
with over $1,500 cash on hand. The membership fees are five 
cents a week. Money is loaned from sums of $10 to $75 and an 
attempt is being made to increase the capital so that loans can be 
made as high as $150. The association has been enabled to 
continue its work through voluntary contributions and public 
entertainments. There are 350 members. 

The association, at a mass meeting held in the Miriam 
Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School, presented a marble 
tablet to Nathan Barnert, in appreciation of his efforts and 
interests in the society. The presentation v.^as made by Judge 
Abram Klenert. The following made addresses: The Rev. 
Marius Rasinsky, rabbi of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Tem- 
ple; Chief Rabbi Rosenberg of the orthodox congregation of 
Paterson, and the Rev. Marcus Rosenstein, rabbi of the Temple 
Emanu-El. 

Mr. Barnert has been a member of the Loan Association 
for many years. It was shortly after the death of his w^fe. 
that he gave the association a mammoth silver candelabra, 
which had been purchased during their trip in Paris, in 1870. 
The candelabra had been made to order in Berlin. It brought 
over $900, the society in this way having been given the impetus 
for a fund with which to carry on its good work. 

164 



TABLET PRESENTED TO NATHAN BARNERT 

BY PATERSON HEBREW FREE LOAN 

ASSOCIATION 



Officers — Elias Stiirza, President; Barnert Bornstein, 
Vice-President; David A. Agins, Treasurer; Benno Freudberg, 
Secretary; Trustees, Max Altshuler, Israel Horowitz, Meyer 
Meyers, Morris F. Levine, Counselor. Board of Directors, 
Jacob Rosenzweig, Max Menein, David H. Agins, Meyer 
Meyers, Benno Freudberg, Morris Feinberg, Morris Finkel- 
stein, Isaac M. Sher, Aaron Lubin, Joseph Chlebnikov^^, Max 
Altshuler, Barnert Bornstein, Abraham Wolf, Jacob H. Levine, 
Harris Rosenstein, Louis Blumenthal, Israel Horow^itz, Morris 
F. Levine,' David Atkind, Isidor Hammer, George Harris, 
David Bernstein, Samuel Abrash, Jacob Katz, Elias Sturza, 
Joseph Silver, Morris Sher. 



165 



ERRATA. 



'A Pretty Sentiment" on Page 70 should read as follows: 
I have expended 
I have given 
I have kept. 

What I expended I had 
What I have given I have 
What I kept I lost. 



Lines underneath "The Boy Barnert" page 73 should read: 

The following anonymous communication was published 
in the San Francisco Chronicle : 



Seventh line, beginning from top of page 99 in chapter 
devoted to history of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, 
should read: 

Underneath the main auditorium is a large room. 



Line underneath picture facing page 158 should read: 
Synagogue in Santomischel, Germany, etc. 



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